NHRA Top Fuel vehicles collide following a 335-MPH run, impacting Tony Stewart on his side.
NHRA via FS1 / YouTube
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Anyone who has attended an NHRA Top Fuel event will agree that the experience is unparalleled. Each car generates 12,000 horsepower, and when two of them race side by side, it’s incredibly intense. Ideally, it shouldn’t escalate to this level. Veteran driver Doug Kalitta and Tony Stewart collided at the conclusion of a 335-mile-per-hour run, and while both emerged unscathed, Stewart admits he has no memory of the incident.
The two competitors faced off during the second round of eliminations at Maple Grove Raceway in Pennsylvania. Everything proceeded smoothly from the start to the finish line, with Kalitta recording a trap speed of 335.73 mph and an ET of 3.787 seconds, outpacing Stewart’s 3.809-second run at 326.71 mph. However, the moment the parachutes deployed, Kalitta’s vehicle abruptly veered left into Stewart’s.
NHRA via FS1 / YouTube
Stewart’s car was quickly tipped onto its side for a brief, jarring moment before it righted itself and crashed into the wall. When Fox Sports 1 inquired about the incident, the 54-year-old stated, “I honestly have no idea what happened.”
“I truly don’t recall any of it,” Stewart added. “The first thing I remember is waking up here. I’m not sure what took place, but it seems to have been significant. Looking at Doug’s and my cars, I’m thankful PBRC constructs our vehicles, as they provide safe race cars, evidently. Like everyone else, I’m curious about the details. I just know we ended up somewhere we shouldn’t have after a run. So, it’s just confusing.
“I’ve got a bad headache and my left hand is hurt, but I’ve experienced much worse crashes in sprint cars, I’m sure. We’re okay. We’re okay. I assure you we’re fine.”
Kalitta mentioned in a post-race interview that the crash was “probably the worst one [he’s] had” in a Top Fuel vehicle. That’s a significant statement given his 27-year tenure in the sport.
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NHRA Top Fuel vehicles collide following a 335-MPH run, impacting Tony Stewart on his side.
Doug Kalitta and Tony Stewart had an unintentional collision while speeding down the racetrack, and Stewart mentioned that the first thing he recalls is "waking up."