Tony Stewart And Doug Kalitta Survive 300 MPH NHRA Crash At Reading Nationals

That’s one way to kick off the postseason!

Tony Stewart and Doug Kalitta both walked away from a massive crash at the NHRA Reading Nationals in Pennsylvania on Sunday.

Kalitta had just won their second elimination round with a 335.73 mph pass when the left front tire on his car failed as the chutes deployed.

This caused him to veer across the center line into Stewart’s lane and knock his rival’s car over.

Stewart’s car bounced back upright as Kalitta’s spun and came to rest. Despite the severity of the crash, both drivers escaped serious injury, although Stewart was dazed by the impact.

“I honestly don’t remember any of it. The first thing I remember they’re waking me up here. Not sure what happened, but it appears to have been pretty massive,” Stewart said on FS1 after the incident. “I just know that we’re not where we’re supposed to be at the end of a run here. So, just confused.”

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“I got one hell of a headache and banged my left hand up. But I’ve been through sprint car crashes way worse than this, I’m pretty sure. We’re good. We’re good. We’re fine. I promise we’re fine.”

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Since the accident happened past the finish line, Kalitta was able to continue racing with a backup car and made it to the final round, where he lost to Shawn Reed. Cruz Pedregon took home the Funny Car win and Dallas Glenn won in Pro Stock.