While the engines in jet-powered dragsters and Funny Cars were originally intended to help carry out stomach-turning maneuvers in aircraft, once bolted to land-locked automobiles, their only mission is to accelerate in a straight line as quickly as possible. Any deviation from that is, well, very much unwanted.

For veteran jet-car pilot — and in this case, the word “pilot” is very much befitting — Russ Glover, a recent show at the Nitro Chaos event in Eddyville, Iowa turned into a blockbuster when he lost control of his dragster in eye-raising fashion. Glover, driving one of two Team Game X Change dragsters, rocketed off the starting line, then took an abrupt left turn and skated out of control into a full 360-degree spin in the middle of the track. Glover, as you’ll see, was on the ball and out of the throttle before the car had even turned 90 degrees, but that did little to halt momentum.

“The tail of the burner ruptured and blew the side out which in turn sent the thrust to the side and made the car turn left,” team owner Ray Kelley explained. “He did a 360 in the middle of the track and grazed the wall. The car suffered a bent ground spoiler and a parachute can. The driver was unscathed. Our Game X Change sponsors give us great cars and equipment to entertain all the fans. Will be back next weekend to do it again.”

The outcome was about as fortunate as you could possibly expect for an accident of this nature and speed — Glover’s dragster kissed the wall and did some superficial damage. The most fortunate part, though, was that Kelley had left well before the tree activated and was a couple of car lengths ahead, avoiding what could have been a devastating result.