Top Alcohol Dragster rookie Ron Anderson had his abilities put to the test at the NHRA’s Auto Club Finals at Pomona, California last month, when he found himself speeding directly into his crashing opponent, with little time to react or room for error. 

Anderson was running opposite of Norwegian Fred Hanssen in the opening session of qualifying at Auto Club Raceway and lost cylinders early, slowing him in the front half of his run — a point which may have saved he and his dragster in the end. Out his windscreen, Hanssen’s blown alcohol dragster was pulling steadily away, putting several car-lengths on Anderson’s A/Fuel dragster. Because of that, Anderson had a front row seat as the left rear slick on Hanssen’s dragster exploded at the finish stripe at the conclusion of a 5.31-second, 270 mph lick. Fragments of the tire struck the rear wing, taking away precious downforce and sending Hanssen across the shutdown area, directly into the path of Anderson, and into the guardrail.

As you can witness from Anderson’s vantage point from this clip provided by InsideTopAlcohol.com‘s Will Hanna, Anderson’s dragster missed being caught up in the parachute of Hanssen’s dragster by the hair on his chinny-chin-chin at 274 mph — so close you can hear a stunned Anderson shout over the sound of the engine as he reacts to what just unfolded before his eyes.

Hanssen, who endured his second death-defying crash at Pomona in the last four years, was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation and returned with a clean bill of health the following day.