Dragster goes airborne at 280 mph, driver escapes with only minor injuries ( video )

Three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon miraculously survived after his dragster crashed during a race part of the Top Fuel eliminations.

It happened on Saturday at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals when the dragster literally split in half and went airborne while it was doing 280 mph (450 km/h), but luckily it landed on its wheels after the rear portion of the car leaped about 20 feet into the air.


Larry Dixon managed somehow to get out of the car safe and sound, with only some pain in the upper back and left knee. He described the accident "like a roller-coaster ride that flies off the track."

It wasn't Dixon's first accident of this kind as back in 2000 he encountered a similar issue at an event organized at Memphis International Raceway.


It was more serious that time as he sustained some injuries and had to be taken to the hospital via helicopter to fix a broken leg and an eye injury.


Following that crash, Dixon was actually one of the first drivers in the NHRA to use a head and neck support device (HANS).

Last modified on Tuesday, 17 March 2015 05:28