The things that matter...
Its been 2 weeks since I attended the NHRA GatorNationals in Gainesville, FL. I had an entire blog ready to talk about what a great weekend of racing and the fun and friends I encountered while I was down there. But on that following Monday morning, everything changed.
Drivers all know the inherent risks associated with living life on the performance edge... its part of the allure of driving, and the adrenaline rush it creates. But, there is nothing that can prepare you for that split second where euphoria can turn into chaos, and chaos into tragedy. How quickly life is put into perspective, and how dramatically the world as we know it can change.
I had been receiving update phone calls from the TARE Pro Mod team about the test session all morning. But the call I received Monday afternoon was anything but joyful, as I first learned of Team Force Nitro Funny Car driver, Eric Medlen's violent top end crash, and his transport via Life-Flight to UF Gainesville's Shands Hospital. With initial reports ranging from mild to wild on his condition, I didn't comprehend initially the severity of his injuries. I somehow assumed that he was in good hands and everything would be alright.
But soon I learned of the battle that Eric was fighting. With a Closed-Head injury demanding brain surgery to relieve swelling pressure, the entire drag racing community held our collective breaths and prayed. Prayed for him to be okay, prayed for him to come back to us with that smiling, mop-headed personality, prayed for him to be strong. But God must have had another plan, as this past Friday, the difficult decision was made by his father, best friend and crew chief, John Medlen, to honor his son's wishes by removing him from the machines. The drag racing community has suffered an unimagineable loss.
A friend of mine, Ryan Elliot, wrote some words about Eric that I feel are just truly touching. You can read them on the Team Kalitta NHRA Blog.
Godspeed, Eric. You are greatly missed. I only wish I could have known personally the light you brought into so many lives.
Drivers all know the inherent risks associated with living life on the performance edge... its part of the allure of driving, and the adrenaline rush it creates. But, there is nothing that can prepare you for that split second where euphoria can turn into chaos, and chaos into tragedy. How quickly life is put into perspective, and how dramatically the world as we know it can change.
I had been receiving update phone calls from the TARE Pro Mod team about the test session all morning. But the call I received Monday afternoon was anything but joyful, as I first learned of Team Force Nitro Funny Car driver, Eric Medlen's violent top end crash, and his transport via Life-Flight to UF Gainesville's Shands Hospital. With initial reports ranging from mild to wild on his condition, I didn't comprehend initially the severity of his injuries. I somehow assumed that he was in good hands and everything would be alright.
But soon I learned of the battle that Eric was fighting. With a Closed-Head injury demanding brain surgery to relieve swelling pressure, the entire drag racing community held our collective breaths and prayed. Prayed for him to be okay, prayed for him to come back to us with that smiling, mop-headed personality, prayed for him to be strong. But God must have had another plan, as this past Friday, the difficult decision was made by his father, best friend and crew chief, John Medlen, to honor his son's wishes by removing him from the machines. The drag racing community has suffered an unimagineable loss.
A friend of mine, Ryan Elliot, wrote some words about Eric that I feel are just truly touching. You can read them on the Team Kalitta NHRA Blog.
Godspeed, Eric. You are greatly missed. I only wish I could have known personally the light you brought into so many lives.
Posted by Erica Ortiz on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at 2:23 PM | Permalink 
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