Kalitta had just completed a blistering 335.73 mph run, narrowly defeating Stewart, who clocked 326.71 mph. However, the danger unfolded shortly after the finish line when Kalitta's left-front tire failed, causing his dragster to veer violently across the center line and collide with Stewart’s dragster.
The impact flipped Stewart’s car onto its side momentarily before it righted itself and slammed into the left guard wall. Despite the shocking nature of the crash, both drivers emerged alert and walked away with minor injuries, a testament to the safety standards in NHRA racing.
Stewart admitted to having no memory of the incident. "I don't have a damn clue," he told Fox Sports 1. "The first thing I remember is waking up here. Not sure what happened, but it seems to have been pretty massive." Stewart was grateful for the robust build of the race cars, crediting PBRC for their safety.
Even with a headache and a sore left hand, Stewart remains encouraged, noting he has survived worse crashes in his sprint car career. Both drivers were evaluated by NHRA’s Chief Medical Officer and cleared to continue.
Kalitta described the crash as one of the worst he’s experienced in his 27-year NHRA career. Yet the focus quickly turned back to racing as Stewart prepared to continue his championship chase. His resilience and the safety systems in place ensured a frightening crash ended with relief and determination to move forward in the competition.
