Reigning top-fuel champion Antron Brown was able to walk away from a fiery crash after his engine exploded as his dragster crossed the finish line during the first NHRA race of the season at Auto Club Raceway according to Yahoo.
Brown's vehicle crossed the finish line, barely beating out Dave Grubnic in the second road of elimination, and all of a sudden his 8,000 horsepower engine exploded.
The force from the explosion sent his vehicle crashing into the far wall on the left side of Grubnic's lane, and managed to crack the wall upon collision according to Yahoo.
Brown's vehicle was going approximately 300 mph according to USA Today.
The NHRA Safety Safari crew on hand was able to successfully get Brown out of the vehicle before anything serious happened to the driver. Brown was taken away on an ambulance and was treated and later released from the local care center according to The Los Angeles Times.
The dragster Brown was driving was equipped with a safety canopy to enclose the cockpit, a feature that was only approved in August of 2012 according to Yahoo. Brown is only one of four drivers who have committed to using a canopy.
The canopy, which is built for safety, not aerodynamics, has created some controversy since being approved last summer. Not only does it add weight to the car by approximately 30 pounds, the cost can reach close to $12,000 and requires a complete overhaul of the cockpit during installation, which can cost up to $250,000 to build according to USA Today.
Brown has stated on multiple occasions that he feels the cockpit should be necessary for all drivers.
"It's locked, sealed and delivered," Brown said according to USA Today. "Now you're in a fully enclosed cockpit. It's ballistic. It's bulletproof. Things can't come to you."
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