NHRA News: Top Fuel's Smith recovering from successful surgery (12/10/2003)

Top Fuel's Smith recovering from successful surgery

12/10/2003

John Smith

Prestone-sponsored Top Fuel driver John Smith underwent the fourth and what he hopes will be the final surgery on the leg he injured in 2001 at the national event in Brainerd, Minn., during an unfortunate collision with Gary Scelzi.

Doctors performed this latest operation in hopes of enhancing Smith's mobility and comfort. The surgery included removing the supporting rod surrounding the tibia, which is the larger innermost bone in the human leg between the knee and ankle, two ankle screws, and an ankle plate used to fuse the shattered ankle bone. Smith will undergo physical therapy during the off-season to prepare for pre-season testing and the 2004 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series tour.

"The operation went extremely well and John is at home recovering from his surgery," said Rhonda Hartman-Smith, Smith's wife and fellow Top Fuel pilot. "The doctors at the Anderson Hospital (in South Carolina) advised John to remove the metal hardware as preventative measure. The rods and plates would severely impact the leg if it were re-injured in the future. We are confident that John will be back on his feet shortly."

The accident occurred when Smith and Scelzi were involved in a high-speed collision during the first round of Top Fuel eliminations at Brainerd International Raceway. Scelzi's dragster blew a tire, which took out the rear wing of his car, catapulting his rail across the center line and directly into Smith.

Although Smith has been able to pursue his Top Fuel driving career, he will feel the physical effects of the accident for the rest of his life. He certainly didn't slow down much in 2003, racing to the first final round match-up of his career at his hometown race, the Mac Tools Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.

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