Little less than a week ago, longtime Pro Modified competitor Raymond Commisso opened the ADRL’s second visit to the scenic Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. in wild fashion – a fashion that not even the crash mongers riding the pine wanted to see.

Commisso, driving one of the supercharged 1968 Camaros that was previously campaigned under Roger Burgess’ R2B2 Racing umbrella, rattled the tires not far off the startling line during the first session of Pro Modified qualifying, setting in motion a devastating incident around half track that happened incredibly quick.

The near head-on impact at about half track (330-feet) sent the concrete “jersey” barriers scattering away from their former position. The impact also burst both the oil tank and the fuel cell situated in the nose of the Camaro, creating a massive fireball. As you can aimgine with such a viscious hit, not only did both tanks rupture, but both exited stage left entirely. Some of those in attendance have commented that the heat from the short-lived fireball could be felt all the way up in the grandstands.

The ADRL’s videography team had their cameras rolling and captured the entire incident from a couple of different angles. Fortunately for them – and especially for cameraman Grinner Hester, who was nearly turned into roadkill after narrowly avoiding Lizzy Musi’s Camaro in the now-famous crash in Bristol – this one happened well outside of their personal space.

Considering what chassis builders are able to do with tweaked race cars these days, we wouldn’t be so quick to call Commisso’s machine junk. As others will agree, the Pro Modified landscape wouldn’t be quite the same without the Toronto, Ontario-based racer in the field.