Drag racing is dangerous, no matter where it takes place, and we’re reminded of that fact after watching this intense video captured yesterday at the FUCHS Winternationals held at Willowbank Raceway in Australia. 

Competing in the Competition Eliminator class, racer Danny Tuelstrup completes his qualifying hit in normal fashion, and it’s just after the finish line that all hell breaks loose. Tuelstrup pulls the parachute and every racer’s nightmare happens – the chute’s lead lines get caught in the dragster’s wheelie bar, forcing Tuelstrup to get hard on the binders, locking up the tires and sending him violently into the opposite-side retaining wall. 

Thankfully, the nose of the dragster lifts just enough to send it up and over the wall, rather than head-on, and Tuelstrup goes for a wild ride, with no less than eight-and-a-half barrel rolls until the dragster comes to a skidding stop on its lid in the middle of the track. 

Amazingly, Tuelstrup simply unbuckles his harness straps and climbs out out of the vehicle, unhurt and alert. The same can’t be said for the chassis, which appears to be a total loss from what we can see. Reports out of Australia say that he’s unhurt and the engine is expected to be re-usable.

It’s a shame to see his machine demolished in an incident like this, but we’re very happy to see that it didn’t cause a bigger issue on the track and thankful that his competitor was well out in front of him, rather than caught in the maelstrom.