Eric Medlin RIP
	Photo By RAP :: Race Action Photography

Eric Medlen, 33, who had emerged as one of the most popular young drivers in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, succumbed Friday afternoon to injuries suffered when his race car crashed into a guardwall during a Monday test session at Gainesville Raceway.

The talented Funny Car driver never regained consciousness. After being treated at the track, he was transported by ShandsCair helicopter to Shands at the University of Florida medical center where medical staff treated him for four days for a severe closed head injury.

"Eric suffered from severe traumatic brain injury with diffuse axonal injury, or DAI," said Dr. Joseph Layon, professor of anesthesiology, surgery, and medicine and the chief of Critical Care Medicine at UF. "Survival rates associated with DAI are low.

"On Tuesday, the UF and Shands neurosurgery team performed a craniectomy and removed the front portion of the skull to relieve pressure and attempt to improve blood flow to the brain," Layon explained. "Despite receiving the most aggressive treatment, Eric continued to have uncontrollable intracranial pressure. His body lost the ability to manage its salt and water levels, and he began displaying the complicating factors associated with DAI.


Out of respect for the family of Eric Medlen and to allow the John Force Racing family the opportunity to grieve its loss, team owner John Force confirmed Wednesday that the team will not compete in this week's 20th annual O'Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil in Houston.

The team still is evaluating what occurred in the accident that caused the severe closed head injury that resulted in Medlen's death. The JFR crew chiefs, headed by Medlen's father, John, will be working closely with NHRA, the Professional Racers Owners Organization, and the team's vendors to evaluate the series of events that caused a tire blowout and an extreme vibration beyond anything previously recorded in the sport.

Eric was given the very best care he could have received, but for the compassion it showed for Eric and all those close to him, his father, John Medlen said he wanted to thank the thousands of people who offered their prayers and support to them during this very difficult time.

At Louisville, Ky., BP/Castrol had set up a booth space for the Mid-America Trucking Show, fans and well-wishers filled up two giant posters with get-well wishes Thursday. Moreover, more than 4,500 individual messages of support were left at a special e-mail address on the first day it was activated.

"Eric Medlen was the son I never had," said team owner John Force. "He was the leader of my next generation of drivers. Robert Hight, my daughter Ashley, and I were with the family throughout this very difficult time. This loss is a huge blow not only to the Medlen family, but to drag racing and to John Force Racing.

Medlen took over driving responsibilities in the Funny Car in which Tony Pedregon won the 2003 championship. He had distinguished himself as one of the brightest young stars on the circuit, winning six times in his first three seasons and never finishing outside the top five in driver points.

A graduate of Oakdale (Calif.) High School, where he was a high school rodeo champion in calf roping, Medlen trained under the watchful eye of two-time PRCA world champion Jerold Camarillo and had contemplated a career in pro rodeo before his father called in 1996 to offer him a mechanic's job at John Force Racing Inc.

After spending one season on the team on which his father was crew chief, he moved over one pit stall in 1997 to work on the car driven by 14-time NHRA champion Force. Serving first as the supercharger technician and later as a clutch specialist, he was a member of a team that crewed Force to 50 tour victories and six championships in seven seasons.

Medlen was Force's surprise pick to fill the seat, w Pedregon left after the 2003 season to form his own team The move reunited him with his father on the number-two team at JFR.

He was the sport's top Funny Car rookie in 2004. He won three races in 2005 and two in 2006.
God be with the family and friends left behind.