European nitro Funny Car racer Kevin “Chippy” Chapman was unhurt in one of the more violent flopper crashes in recent memory Saturday at the Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway in Wellingborough, United Kingdom.
The London resident, driving his fuel coupe draped in a former John Force Racing Ford Mustang body, was on a solo run in the fourth session of qualifying when he lost control shortly off the starting line and turned hard into the left hand guardrail. The impact ruptured the fuel cell, igniting a large fireball as the body and other parts and pieces shed from the chassis. Of particular note when viewing the images captured by photographer Jack Dilley and others is the brief, incredible rotational speed attained by the drive wheels and tires as the throttle remained wide-open following the impact. As a result, you can see the contact patch of the big slicks nearly into a half circle.
Chapman fortunately emerged unharmed, but the same could certainly not be said for his race car. With a talented group in his corner, though, including veteran American nitro crew chief Wayne Dupuy, his return to the racetrack is certainly in good hands.
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