NHRA Funny Car privateer Alex Miladinovich was unhurt in a wild accident during the third and final session of qualifying Saturday afternoon at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, California.

Photo courtesy NHRA/National Dragster

Miladinovich, driving his “Hot 4 Teacher” Toyota Camry, was making a last-ditch effort to punch his way into the qualified field, having been relegated to 20th in the order through the prior two sessions with only a 6.47-second elapsed time to his credit. In the left lane and racing opposite of Tony Jurado, Miladinovich hung with it just a hair too long as his machine struck the tires and turned almost 90 full degrees to the right, crashing nearly head-on into the guardrail. After rolling to a stop, the Orange, California native quickly climbed out of the roof hatch, stood atop the decklid of the beaten and battered car, and fired up the crowd in a an admirable display of positivity and showmanship given the hit to the ego and wallet that had just occurred.