INJURED: 14-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force was seriously injured in a crash Sunday at the Texas Motorplex. Force, who received six hours of reconstructive surgery Sunday night on his feet, legs and hands, was already undergoing physical therapy on Monday. Force suffered a compound fracture of the left ankle, a deep laceration of the right knee down to the bone, broken fingers and lacerations on the right hand and a dislocated left wrist that originally was diagnosed as a dislocation and break.
SPONSORS: National Guard, Mountain Dew and Amp Energy Drink will sponsor the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next season.
HIRES AND FIRES: Champ Car World Series drivers Oriol Servia and Ryan Dalziel were relieved of their rides with two races remaining. David Martinez will replace Servia at Forsythe Racing, while Mario Dominguez will take Dalziel’s spot with Pacific Coast Motorsports.
NEW TRACK: Officials for New Jersey Motorsports Park broke ground on Thunderbolt Raceway, the road course portion of the multifaceted facility located in Millville, New Jersey, September 19. In the process, the group headed by Harvey Siegel and Lee Brahin unveiled a plaque honoring National Speed Sport News Editor Chris Economaki, which will grace the media center at the facility.
4-CROWN: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (midget), Robert Ballou (sprint car), Chad Ruhlman (modified) and Jerry Coons Jr. (Silver Crown) claimed victories during Eldora Speedway’s 27th annual 4-Crown Nationals.
A CHAMPION: 17-year-old Joey Logano, a Joe Gibbs Racing development driver, clinched the NASCAR East championship in his rookie season.
NUMBER ONE: Despite his season being complete, IRL IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti remained at the top of the NSSN Power Rankings for the second consecutive week. NHRA Pro Stock driver Dave Connolly moved to second.
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