Top Fuel owner-driver Shawn Reed was hospitalized after a serious crash during the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle. Reed’s dragster experienced a right-rear tire failure at 290 mph, sending him careening into the guardrail and back across the track. Despite the chaos, Reed was conscious and communicated with emergency personnel, although he suffered a significant hand laceration. Crew chief Rob Wendland assessed the damage and confirmed that while the motor remained intact, the car took hard hits that affected the roll cage.

Reed, a local favorite from nearby Puyallup, had expressed his desire to win a “Wally” trophy in front of his hometown crowd, admitting the pressure he felt to perform. He highlighted that his season had shown promising results but attributed previous misfortunes on race days to bad luck.

The accident delayed qualifying by over an hour, prompting concern from fellow racers. Tony Stewart, a friend of Reed, commented on the close-knit nature of the racing community and shared his intention to check on Reed after the event. Stewart’s crew chief echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the emotional toll the incident took on the competitors. Reed’s situation remains under careful observation as the racing community rallies in support, underscoring the underlying risks of drag racing.



Source: competitionplus.com