Chase Johnson Racing provides update after serious Gold Cup accident

After Saturday's horrific crash at Silver Dollar Speedway's Gold Cup Race of Champions on the Kubota High Limit Racing Tour, Chase Johnson of Penngrove, California, is “stable and recovering” on a breathing tube in the intensive care unit at UC Davis Medical Center, according to an update on the 28-year-old's Facebook page Monday afternoon.

The update on Chase Johnson Racing's Facebook page also included that he underwent nine hours of surgery to repair fractures of his C4, C5 and C6 vertebrae.

“They removed broken pieces of bone, repaired the damaged areas with a spinal fusion, and stabilized his neck with plates and screws,” the update on Johnson's Facebook page continued, adding that Johnson “still has a T10 and T11 fracture.”

Johnson and his supporters “hope his breathing tube will be removed so he can speak.”

“We are so grateful for all the support, prayers and wishes,” the update continued. “We will do our best to keep you updated on behalf of Chase's wishes.”

The Californian was running seventh in Saturday's 40-lap Gold Cup finale with a prize of $100,070 when he was involved in a serious accident on lap 13 that required him to be extricated from his No. 24 Sprint Car. From there, Johnson was flown by helicopter to UC Davis Medical Center, where he has been on the road to recovery ever since.

Johnson made his high limit racing debut this weekend at the Chico, Calif., Bull Ring, where he finished third behind Corey Day and Spencer Bayston the night before Thursday. Johnson has made 20 starts in 410 Sprint Car competition this year, earning a win on July 27 at Santa Maria (Calif.) Speedway in the NARC's King of the West Racing Series.