PDRA Pro Extreme racer Neal Wantye was critically injured in a high-speed crash over the weekend when he lost control of his supercharged Chevrolet Camaro at the Ohio Valley Raceway near Louisville, Kentucky.
Wantye, who was involved in an incident in what’s believed to be the same car at the PDRA Memphis Drags last year, was making a single pass in the repaired Camaro when, for unknown reasons, it shot across the race track past the half-track marker and struck the concrete retaining wall. Although details are scarce, the impact reportedly broke the engine and front half of the car away from the chassis, sending parts scattering over the wall. Other debris can be seen striking the finish line scoreboards in the video, as well.
According to sources, Wantye was cut from the wreckage and transported to a local trauma center, where it was determined he had suffered breaks in both of his legs and hips and a broken arm, as well as injuries to his back and lungs in the crash. He reportedly received pins and plates in his back to begin the healing process.
Photos of the aftermath showed the chassis completely void of the carbon fiber body, along with everything from the firewall. It’s uncertain whether the impact led to said damage or if that was done in the process of cutting and removing Wantye from the cockpit, but regardless, the destruction was particularly evident in the footage.
Our thoughts go out to Wantye and his family as he begins the road to recovery.