Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force made his first public statement on Thursday since his devastating crash back in late June, thanking his legions of fans for their support and announcing his attendance at this weekend’s Ford Performance NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas in support of his three nitro teams in their championship chases.

“I’m gonna get better. I felt I owed it to everyone to tell you guys that I’m OK. I want to take a minute and thank you. I want to tell you I love the cards and the gifts and everything because you showed me that you cared at a time when I needed help,” said Force in the video released by his team.

Force, 75, suffered a traumatic brain injury June 23 while competing at the NHRA Virginia Nationals when his PEAK Chevrolet Camaro exploded at the finish line and careened into the guardrail at 300 mph. Force has spent months in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, first spending 15 days in intensive care at VCU Medical Center in Richmond before being transferred to Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. He has spent the months since receiving outpatient care near his home in Yorba Linda, California. Force has been seen in various family photos on social media throughout his recovery, however, he had not made any public statements nor had there been details released on his condition.

But, with two of his race teams battling for the NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car championship and daughter Brittany closing out her season in Top Fuel, Force has gained clearance from his doctors to attend next weekend’s penultimate race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he will be joined by his wife, Laurie.

“Vegas is close enough to home that my wife Laurie and I can drive over,” Force said. “I want to show my support for our race teams, the fans and all our sponsors. They’ve stuck with me during a hard time, and I want them to know that I haven’t forgotten them and I haven’t gone anywhere. I’ve just been doing my rehab, trying to stay strong.”

Before his crash, Force had won two national events and was in arguably the strongest position for title number 17 as he had been in years. Force’s team, taking advantage of an opportunity set out in the NHRA rulebook to carry championship points over to another driver, returned two races after his crash in Brainerd, Minn., with former world champion Jack Beckman in the seat. Beckman won the NHRA Midwest Nationals at St. Louis and enters this weekend’s event second in the  Countdown to the Championship standings, trailing only teammate Austin Prock. Sources have told DRAGZINE in recent months that no decisions on Force’s racing future nor that of his PEAK Funny Car had been made, and that he and his family’s only focus has been regaining his health.

I’m gonna get better. I felt I owed it to everyone to tell you guys that I’m OK.

“I’m still a work in progress,” Force said. “I have good days and bad days, but I’m motivated. Beckman’s been doing a good job working with Dan Hood, (Chris) Cunningham and (Tim) Fabrisi. He tells me it’s still my car but he’s driving it like it’s his. It’s been exciting to watch him and (Austin) Prock on Fox but watching on TV is not the same as being there.

“I want to be there for Brittany and that team with (David) Grubnic and John Collins. They’re gonna win a race with Monster and HendrickCars.com and Chevrolet and I want to be there when they do, and I really can’t wait to see all my guys. I love them and I’ve missed them and can’t wait to be with them again.”