Reaction To The Passing Of Eric Medlen From Around The NHRA
Written by David Lamm · March 26, 2007
Many of us were shocked and stunned to hear or read the news that NHRA Funny Car driver Eric Medlen suffered a catastrophic accident while testing his Ford Mustang the day following the completion of the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. Friday, Eric Medlen passed away as a result of those injuries to the shock and dismay of not only the fans that followed him and the sport of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing but his fellow competitors and rivals. Compiled herein are some reactions from those in the drag racing community that knew Eric Medlen and were competitors with him in the NHRA.
Tom Compton, President of the National Hot Rod Association
Words cannot describe how everyone at NHRA is feeling after the passing of one of our brightest young stars, Eric Medlen. He earned his way to the top through hard work and perseverance and, in doing so, gained the respect of his fellow competitors.
Eric was a great spokesperson not only for John Force Racing but the sport of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing and he will be forever remembered for his enthusiasm, uplifting personality and ever-present smile. He was destined to become a great champion in the sport and all of us at NHRA are grateful and fortunate to have shared in some of his glory.
Eric left this sport far too soon and his absence will be felt by everyone within the NHRA racing community. On behalf of everyone at NHRA, I want to send our sincere condolences to the Medlen family and John Force Racing.
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John Force, Driver of the Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang and Team Owner of John Force Racing
Eric Medlen was the son I never had. 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. I just want to thank everybody for their support, from Larry Smiley with Racers for Christ to the hospital staff to the whole drag racing community. Our prayers go out to the family.
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Don Schumacher, Team Owner of Don Schumacher Racing
All of us at Don Schumacher Racing are deeply saddened by the passing of Eric Medlen. Eric was a rival on 23 Sunday afternoons at NHRA races but a great friend to all of us at DSR. We shared many laughs and stories along the way with Eric, his dad John and his teammates. His smile was easy and genuine. He knew he was a lucky guy to drive one of the four John Force Mustang Funny Cars and to have his dad as his crew chief. He respected his responsibilities as a young ambassador for John Force Racing, his sponsors and for NHRA POWERade Drag Racing. Our hearts go out to the Medlen Family, the John Force Racing organization and everyone who knew and loved Eric Medlen.
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Tony Pedregon, Driver of the Q Racing Chevy Monte Carlo and former teammate of Eric Medlen
Eric and I remained the best of friends after working together for eight years. I respected Eric not just as a friend but also as a driver and competitor. I am privileged to have been able to work with someone with so much talent and ability. He made me smile every time we talked or saw one another. John Medlen raised a very unique and special son. I loved Eric like a brother. He will be missed by me, my family and my team.
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Brandon Bernstein, Driver of the Budweiser/Lucas Oil Top Fuel dragster
I feel like I’ve lost a part of me. Eric and I were always texting on our phones, if we weren’t talking on the phone, or hanging out together. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like at the racetrack without him… This is the epitome of an Eric story. One year when I was dejected in Indy because we hadn’t done well in qualifying, I had left the track and was on my way back to my apartment. The phone rings and it’s Eric trying to cheer me up. I wasn’t communicating at the positive level Eric was expecting, so he finally said, ‘Hey, what have you got in your freezer at home?’ What a weird question and where did that come from? I said I wasn’t sure, and he said, ‘Well, have you got any ice cream?’ Well, yeah, I thought I had some ice cream, I said, wondering where this conversation was going. Then Eric said, ‘You should eat a bowl of ice cream when you get home because nobody can be unhappy when they’re eating ice cream.’ And I had to laugh - just the response he was looking for. I think Eric ate ice cream for every meal. He was that happy. And he loved that race car.
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J.R. Todd, Driver of the Skull Shine/Torco Racing Fuels dragster
Two weeks ago, just before Gainesville, I was over at (Eric’s) house painting helmets. We were there from about 5 p.m. until midnight painting. We were pretty loopy from the paint fumes. He was getting ready to airbrush the helmets and pulls the trigger, and paint goes everywhere. Then he asks me to clean it up. I look down and there was paint all over the floor and all over the garage door. So I get down to clean it up and he’s still painting away, and I’m still doing the work. I said ‘no one better come in here with a camcorder while you’re still painting away and I’m cleaning.’ He thought that was really funny. Whenever you’d be down and out, he’d always have something to say to make you smile. He was also pretty good about giving advice. The best piece of advice he gave me was last week, when there was controversy over (Todd’s former crew chief Jimmy Walsh) leaving. Eric was really good about telling me what I should say, and what not to say on camera. He told me what to expect and how I should deal with it. I did it and it worked. Everyone’s going to miss him. He was one of the guys out there just doing what he loved, always having a good time. That’s what I’ll miss
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22 Responses to “Reaction To The Passing Of Eric Medlen From Around The NHRA”
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This is totally devasting. What a major loss the NHRA community and the Medlin family has suffered. My hearts and prayers go out to the Medlin family.
My condolences to the family of Eric Medlen. I had watched Eric grow to be one of the best drivers of the John Force team. He will be missed a lot by so many people.
We just want everyone to know that we are thinking of and praying for Eric’s family and the entire Force Racing Family.It was a total shock to us to hear of the loss,racing won’t be the same without him. God Bless Kevin and Tracy Dye
We are so sorry to hear about his passing, it deeply touched us to hear this bad news. “Eric” you will always be remembered!!
my sincere condolences to the friends and family of eric and to jfr……. such a tragic loss…. rob t n/falls ont
What a tragic thing to happen, I was just shocked. My thoughts and prayers are with the Medlin Family, and John Force Racing Team. Eric will be missed, but not forgotten.
Goodbye Eric.
Our hearts feel empty upon hearing of this tragedy.Eric was like a son to John F., and a personel friend to all of us. Solong Eric, have a great pass.
Our hearts feel empty upon hearing of this tragedy.Eric was like a son to John F., and a personel friend to all of us. Solong Eric, have a great pass.
Our hearts feel empty upon hearing of this tragedy.Eric was like a son to John F., and a personel friend to all of us. Solong Eric, have a great pass.
we are so sad at the passing of eric. It’s too soon and he had alot of racing left in him. He will be missed our hearts and prayers go out to eric, his family & JFR.
you will be missed :(
we are so sad at the passing of eric. It’s too soon and he had alot of racing left in him. He will be missed our hearts and prayers go out to eric, his family & JFR.
you will be missed :(
we are so sad at the passing of eric. It’s too soon and he had alot of racing left in him. He will be missed our hearts and prayers go out to eric, his family & JFR.
you will be missed :(
I can see it now! Eric and Darrell Russell are sitting around trying to figure out how to make their rides go 400MPH! Awesome! RIP!
330 and a clean chute forever bro
After dropping out of the spectator side of drag racing for many years, I picked it back up Erics rookie year. I attended a race, and at the driver introductions, Eric walked around the fence and signed autographs. All I had for him to sign was the hat I was wearing, but I handed it to Eric, and he signed it with a smile. The first autograph of at least 20 more over the next few years. He was a special guy, we’ll all miss him.
Eric, One of your biggest fans went before you a year and a half ago. His name was Eric also. I’m sure you two have met up by now and he’s asked you a million drag racing questions. He loved the sport, your passion for the sport and the entire JFR team. Thanks for the memories and God Bless. To your family I say, the love will live on in your hearts forever!
Eric, one of the brightest rookies around: How do we say goodbye? Well we all know you’ ll be racing up there and lloking down on all of us wishing the best and brightning our spirits. Thanks for the great memories, you will be missed by all and never forgotten.
We as fans feel a great loss, me personally my heart hurts,I can’t imagine the devastation the family is going through and our prayers are with all of you.Even though I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Eric, I felt like I knew him just by watching him and pulling for him. He was awesome on the track,as well as off the track… We watch “Driving Force” every week, and we loved the one when they all went to Eric’s ranch, and him and John got into the pool to RELAX! That was great!! Eric will be missed tremendously by everyone.Once again my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and to JFR. Kevin and Tracy–Seneca SC
I remenber seeing Eric for the first time when he was testing at SIR in Tucson Aizona he Sign my hat and at the time I really did’nt want his autograph but I never got rid of the hat and I will put in a glass case in his honor. God bless his family and friends he will be missed.
i’m so sorry that eric had to die this way and my prayers go out to the ones who cared and LOVED him. this has to be hard for all who liked eric and for me it’s hard because he was my favorite nhra driver. i will ALWAYS love you and forever miss you eric.
love your # 1 fan.
Here it is 2 weeks since his accident and 1 week & 3 days since his passing and i will still expect to see him at the next race. I guess i still do not want to beleive he is gone. We will miss him at every race.