Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
During round one of eliminations at the NHRA Southern Nationals, funny car driver John Hale would experience his first carbon fiber body tossing explosion of his drag racing career. Continue on to see the shot by shot sequence!
During the first round at Atlanta Dragway, driver John Hale would be racing alongside competitor Tommy Johnson Jr. Note the raw fuel coming out of the header pipe. Thats indicative of an unhappy engine.
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
The 10,000 horsepower nitromethane burning engine would backfire and split the carbon fiber body, despite the big square burst panel popping off to release the bomb like pressure of an engine explosion.
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
With the car traveling over 200mph at this point the air quickly got under the body…
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
And sent the Circle K themed body into the Georgia sky.
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
In this photo you can see the parachute straps going from the rear of the car up to the back half of the Dodge body where the parachute packs are mounted.
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
With the parachutes mounted on the body, they auto deploy whenever the body flies off.
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
In less than a second the parachutes are fully deployed.
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
With oil and fluids likely on his helmet visor obstructing his view, Hale can be seen in the cockpit reaching up to feel if the body is still on the car.
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
The back half of the body would land on the return road in front of the main grandstands.
Canon 1Dx, 300mm, 400iso, f6.3, 1/2000th, Manual
Hale would be uninjured in the incident.
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