Video: Tom Bailey’s Massive Explosion And Fireball At The Shakedown

Turning on the red light at the start of a race that you could have easily won is bad enough. Having the car you’re driving turn into a rolling inferno is worse, and Tom Bailey had to deal with both of those at the Shakedown At The Summit last weekend. Bailey was one of the quickest racers in the Pro Mod class behind the wheel of Keith Engling’s way-cool 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass, and he was a favorite to win the event until his day was cut short by the red light, and topped off with a booming, Funny Car-of-the-90’s-like explosion and fire.

Bailey is no stranger to the Shakedown — he has run the event before driving his own Drag Week Camaro and even won the Money Shot award for being the quickest car on the property. This year he got behind the wheel of Engling’s Olds to try and win the $40,000 up for grabs. The car was running well and had gone 5.72 with a .942 60-foot at 248 mph during qualifying, so it was more than up to the task of winning the whole deal.

During eliminations, things got ugly in a hurry, though, for Bailey when he lit the red light at the start of the race to end his weekend — but things got worse from there. At about the half-track mark the screw-blown engine that powers the Cutlass experienced catastrophic failure after a rocker arm broke. Bailey had a front row seat for one heck of a fireworks show as flames engulfed the front of the car as it sped toward the finish line.

Thankfully, the safety gear did its job keeping Bailey safe and damage to the car to a minimum. According to Engling, the damage was more superficial than anything, and if Bailey had won they would have made the next round!

Check out the footage from SpeedVideo that shows this BOOMING explosion!

About the author

Brian Wagner

Spending his childhood at different race tracks around Ohio with his family’s 1967 Nova, Brian developed a true love for drag racing. Brian enjoys anything loud, fast, and fun.
Read My Articles

Drag Racing in your Inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Dragzine, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Dragzine NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

We'll send you the most interesting Dragzine articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Dragzine NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


Street Muscle Magazine
Hot Rods & Muscle Cars
Diesel Army
Diesel Army
Engine Labs
Engine Tech

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • Streetmuscle Hot Rods & Muscle Cars
  • Diesel Army Diesel Army
  • Engine Labs Engine Tech

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Dragzine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Dragzine - Drag Racing Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading