Cory Reed’s Road to Recovery – Drag Illustrated

Corey Reed’s epic crash in 2021 may be a thing of the past for some, but for the drag racer who debuted in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class in 2015, he’s still recovering nearly two years later. is on the way.

This dramatic accident has been named one of the worst crashes in Pro Stock motorcycle racing. Reed collided with teammate Joey his Gladstone during a second round elimination at his DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals at his zMAX dragway in Concord, North Carolina. Reid suffered a compound fracture of his left leg above his ankle and a fractured shoulder after crossing the Gladstone lane, flipping his bike and rolling between a guard wall and a motorcycle.

Reid is still recovering and is undergoing his eighth surgery. The Colorado native explained how he was stretching his once severely fractured leg to fit his right leg due to bone loss from an infection.

“I have a halo fixator on my leg to make it about an inch bigger. I hope this will be the last surgery,” Reed says. and my back started to get a little scoliotic.My ankle is fixed, so pretty much everything they can do to my leg.”

“Maybe 30 to 40 days to adjust and grow something on the foot, then six weeks to let it heal, then go back to physical therapy and just start walking again,” continues Reid.

But after the horrifying scene on September 19, 2021, he remains hopeful about racing again. As a matter of fact, he finds motivation in continuing to work on his and Gladstone’s bikes even after his 2023 hopes of racing at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA. The Gator Nationals came and went as the new Suzuki bodywork was delayed.

“If we had everything [the bodywork], I would have had surgery after racing at Gainesville,” explains Reed. “Then I could have had surgery during the season and waited until I was able to race again.”

For now, Reid relies on the support system of his family and wife. “She’s with me every day and she takes care of me and cleans up after her,” Reed says.

Another key element in Reed’s recovery is Gladstone, also racing under the Reed Motorsport banner. Reid and Gladstone became best friends and soon became each other’s adoptive families.

“We are closer than blood,” says Gladstone.

“Joey and I see each other every day, we always check on each other and we look out for each other in everything,” Reid said after suffering multiple injuries after Gladstone crashed during testing for the 2021 nitrite-equipped Suzuki. I mentioned that I suffered a .

“When it comes to injuries like that, it’s emotional support above all else,” says Gladstone. “Especially when you have to cut off your legs over and over, it’s like getting punched in the gut every time.”

Joey Gladstone

Gladstone, a three-time event winner on NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycles, went on to explain how important the mental side is to regaining the lead.

“It’s about staying mentally strong and having something to keep you hooked on. Last year in the race, he distracted himself and got it done,” he says, sitting in the boat fishing next to Reed. Meanwhile, Gladstone says.

Not only did Reed’s accident change Gladstone’s view of climbing on the back of his bike, Gladstone suffered four broken ribs, a bruised lung, a broken collarbone and shoulder blade, plus a concussion and a grueling ride. He also reflects on his own incident that forced him to rash.

“The last two accidents have changed me quite a bit. They have changed the way I see things and have taken my risk assessment to another level,” explains Gladstone. “I used to push things, race other types of bikes, take chances and take risks, but now I think a lot about putting myself in danger. Having a family with a wife and daughter changed things and made me realize that there are bigger things in life, because your gut tells you if you need to give it up. There is always a chance to start over.

Gladstone and Reed still line the tracks, feeding each other energy. Reed hopes his recovery schedule will allow him to return to competing in Pro Stock motorcycles by the end of the 2023 season.

Gladstone is by his side again, and when they pause the interview to talk about sailing ships, Reed says, “We’re lucky to have each other.”

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