Nitro Harley rider Larry “Drums” Brancaccio continues to recover from injuries he suffered during a devastating crash at the IHRA’s Nitro Jam Summernationals at the Cordova Dragway Park in late May.
The Nutley, New Jersey-based racer completed his second qualifying run on Friday, May 29th in 6.37-seconds at 214 mph when the bike, for unknown reasons, failed to slow in the shutdown area. The bike ran off the end of the track at a high rate of speed, throwing Brancaccio from the nitro-burning motorcycle as it bore through the sand trap and catch fencing.
The 57-year old Brancaccio was taken to a nearby hospital and later transferred to the University of Iowa medical facility, where he was found to have endured multiple fractures, including a broken shoulder, arm, and wrist, along with four compound fractures in the foot. He was also exhibiting bleeding on the brain. Brancaccio underwent a pair of surgeries in the days following the accident, and was transferred out of the ICU on June 4 to begin his recovery, although he faces additional surgeries in the future.
He has since been transported via Medivac back to his native New Jersey to begin rehabilitation.
Ace videographer Les Mayhew captured the entire incident as it unfolded that fateful evening in Cordova. Brancaccio can be seen fighting with the brakes to get it reigned in, and perhaps may have even tried brushing the wall to slow his speed before reaching the end of the asphalt.
Brancaccio is a veteran of nitromethane-fueled motorcycles dating back more than two decades.