It never ceases to amaze us just how swiftly a determined chassis shop and an even more determined racer can turn what just days earlier was a mangled, twisted, and even charred mess of a race car into a piece worthy of a show car prize. Of Course, it’s also a testament to how well these cars — as fragile as they may appear to be when wrapped in fiberglass and carbon fiber — are really built to stand up to such forces and be repairable.

Just five days ago, on Sunday afternoon, ADRL Pro Nitrous competitor John Decerbo was on the ride of his life when his gorgeous 1968 Chevrolet Camaro came unhooked and took an immediate turn across the Rockingham Dragway racing surface virtually head-on into the concrete retaining barrier during the semifinals of the ADRL’s season-opening DragPalooza IX. Decerbo’s mount burst into flames and shed parts and pieces all over the track as it spun to a stop. Despite the cringing lick with the immovable concrete wall, Decerbo climbed from the car unhurt.

And then, like any true racer would do, he and his crew immediately set out to tear the car down and begin the processing of getting it ready for the upcoming X-DRL opener in Tulsa and the ADRL’s next stop in South Georgia.

Decerbo’s Camaro is already on the operating table at Tim McAmis Race Cars in Hawk Point, Mo. for repairs to the front clip of the chassis and installation of a new nose and hood scoop. Of course, the drivetrain, plumbing, wiring, and all of the nitty gritty essentials (including paint) are still on the to-do list, so there are certainly some sleepless nights ahead for the Decerbo camp. Try as the racing Gods might, however, you can’t keep a good racer down.