"Eric Medlen was critically injured in a testing accident at Gainesville, Fla."

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The extent of his injuries is not yet known, but he is listed in critical condition in the surgical intensive care unit of Shands Hospital at the University of Florida Medical Center, where he was transported via helicopter.

 

Officials for John Force Racing said an update on Medlen's condition isn't expected until Tuesday afternoon.

 

Medlen's dragster crashed head on into the right guard rail after it blew a tire on a test run the day after the Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.

 

Medlen, 33, is one of four drivers for John Force's team. All four JFR drivers -- Force, Robert Hight, Ashley Force and Medlen -- stayed in Florida an extra day for the test session.

 

Medlen is competing in his fourth season as a driver. He won six NHRA events in his first three seasons and finished a career-best fourth in the 2006 Funny Car standings.

 

Medlen spent eight years as a crew member for Force's Funny Car, learning the mechanical side of the sport from his father, John Medlen.

 

John Medlen, who is Eric's crew chief in the Castrol/Syntec Mustang, was the crew chief for Tony Pedregon when Pedregon won the NHRA Funny Car title for John Force Racing in 2003.

 

"Eric's extended family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers," said Kelly Antonelli, spokesperson for John Force Racing. "At the same time, we would ask that you respect the family's privacy at this time and allow the medical staff to do its work."

 

 

 

 

 

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