NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Top Fuel racer Terry McMillen walked away uninjured from a high-speed incident while racing Tony Schumacher during the first round of racing at the NHRA SpringNationals in Houston.

McMillen’s Amalie Motor Oil dragster suffered a mechanical engine failure that led to a blown left rear tire, which sent the veteran racer hard into the guardwall in his lane.

McMillen wasn’t injured in the incident, and he readily admits that he turned the steering wheel to keep the car against the wall rather than risk crossing the centerline.

“I wasn’t about to go into Tony [Schumacher’s] lane,” said McMillen. “Once it got into the wall, I just wanted it to stay there until it got stopped. I’m not hurt, except for my feelings. We’ve got a lot of work to do to get back out there by Atlanta, but we’ll get it done.”

The car was severely damaged but McMillen emerged unscathed and was back in action two weeks later at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta with a new car.