Those in attendance at this weekend’s Gulf Western Oil Nitro Thunder event at the Sydney Dragway in Australia got quite the scare when a mechanical malfunction involving one of its Top Fuel contestants led to a starting line-area explosion.

Crewmembers for Jim Read Racing’s Phil Read-driven dragster were in front of the tower firing their dragster when an explosion visibly emanating from the front of the engine sent them and others in close proximity scattering and a shockwave of sound barreling throughout the facility. Despite the concussion and flame — slow-motion capture even illustrates one crew member briefly enveloped in a fireball — four of the five crewmen transported to a local hospital were evaluated and released and a fifth is being treated only for injuries to his hand.

Read’s team issued the following statement regarding the incident:

Jim Read Racing would like to thank its fans and the drag racing community at large for the outpouring of support it has received since the incident which occurred at Sydney Dragway on Saturday evening.

“We have been absolutely inundated with calls and messages of support from all corners of the drag racing and wider community since Saturday evening and we are very grateful to everyone for their well wishes,” Jim Read Racing Crew Chief, Bruce Read, said.

“As often happens with incidents such as this, there is a bit of incorrect information circulating so I would like to formally confirm that five crew members were transported to various hospitals on Saturday as a precaution.  

“Four of those crew members were checked over and then discharged on Saturday evening and a number of them returned to the track Sunday to assist us with the pack-up.

“The fifth crew member stayed in hospital for care of a cut on his hand, which required further attention. This was completed on Sunday and we expect he will be discharged from Westmead Hospital shortly.

“I have been sharing the messages we have been receiving with the crew, and we are all very appreciative for the support and we look forward to seeing you all at the race track again very soon.

“We would also like to send our thanks to all of the track staff, officials, ambulance and fire volunteers at Sydney Dragway for their assistance and support.

“As far as the next round of the series in just under two weeks’ time, we will be conducting a full assessment of the damage to the car this week before making a final decision as to whether we will be at that event.”

The Sydney Dragway had put out its own statement in the hours following the incident, assuring that “a full investigation is underway into the cause of the incident in question in conjunction with the organisers of the Australian Top Fuel Championship and the sanctioning body at Sydney Dragway, IHRA Australia.”

Dragzine has reached out to Jim Read Racing for more information on the cause of the incident.