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Former NASCAR driver Scott Speed begins recovery from broken back

scott speed thumbs up

Former NASCAR and Formula One driver Scott Speed remains in a Utah hospital after suffering three broken vertebrae in his back following a hard landing on a jump during qualifying Friday for the American RallyCross Championship Nitro World Games in Salt Lake City.

MORE: Scott Speed breaks back in rallycross landing

Even with the injuries he suffered and the pain he was in, the 36-year-old California native remained in his Subaru USA car to finish the qualifying session before he climbed out and was immediately sent to a Salt Lake City hospital.

Here’s part of what Speed -- including a photo of him giving a thumbs up -- posted on Facebook after being admitted to the hospital, saying he and surgeons are working to determine the best course of action to treat the broken back.

“CT scan confirmed a destroyed t6 then ... was taken to a spine specialist at University of Utah,” Speed posted. “Finally got an MRI done around 3 am… We found I have 3 fractured vertebrae. Waiting now for the surgeons to give us the game plan. Last night was easily the scariest and most painful time I can remember. Was in a pretty dark place.”

Later on Saturday, Speed gave this update:

Speed won the inaugural Americas RallyCross championship last season for Andretti Autosport. He entered this weekend holding a five-point edge over Tanner Faust in the series’ standings.

After competing full-time for two seasons in Formula One in 2006 and 2007, Speed competed in NASCAR from 2008 through 2013. He made 118 NASCAR Cup starts with a career-best of fifth-place in the spring 2009 race at Talladega.

He also made 29 Xfinity Series starts, and 16 Truck Series starts, including the lone win of his NASCAR career in 2008 at Dover International Speedway for Bill Davis Motorsports.

Follow @JerryBonkowski