SICK CALL #1: GEOFFRION RECUPERATING

Scott Geoffrion's back hurts and he's wearing a special brace, but he is determined to drive his new Pro Stock Ford Escort ZX2 in the NHRA Mac Tools Gatornationals, March 14-16, at Gainesville, Fla.

Geoffrion was disoriented and had back pain when he climbed out of the wreckage of Hurley Blakeney's NitroFish Ford Mustang Feb. 23 following a first-round accident at Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Ariz. He was released from Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix Tuesday afternoon and returned to his home, under doctors' orders for bed rest. Doctors took precautions because Geoffrion has had two previous back injuries, including one that required surgery and installation of two metal rods in 1983. He broke a vertebra three years ago.

"I also had my bell rung pretty good when I hit the wall," added Geoffrion, 37. "I was lucky I was driving the Mustang because it's a bigger car and was able to absorb more of the impact."

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A broken left brake rotor triggered the accident just passed the finish line. When Geoffrion hit the brakes, the Mustang moved toward the left guard wall. He kept it from hitting that wall, but the car turned and shot toward the right guard wall, hitting it hard almost head on. The impact then swung the left rear quarter-panel back so it smacked the barrier, too.

"That was my first accident of any kind in racing," Geoffrion pointed out, no doubt hoping it's his last. (Jeff Burk photo) [3-3-2003]

SICK CALL #2: FORCE OKAY AFTER GALL BLADDER SURGERY

John Force successfully underwent a laproscopic procedure Feb. 28 to remove his malfunctioning gallbladder.

In a telephone call following surgery, Force said that, after a brief recovery at his home in Yorba Linda, Calif., he expected to "come back stronger than ever. I want to thank all the fans for their concern, but it wasn't a big deal. It was just something that needed to be done because (the gall bladder) wasn't going to fix itself."

After consulting with his doctor and family, he decided to schedule the procedure during one of only two three-week breaks in the 2003 NHRA schedule to provide him the greatest amount of recovery time.

If Force starts showing his scar at the top end, the Agent isn't going to be hanging around. [3-3-2003]

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