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Corvette Crashes Hard While Racing Chevrolet Camaro In NHRA Race

The Driver Survived The Crash During The Weekend’s Heartland Nationals Event

Racing is a full contact sport. And sometimes drivers pay the ultimate price. But most of the time, thankfully, drivers walk away mostly unscathed thanks to incredible safety equipment. Even if the crash happens at 200 miles per hour. That’s what occurred over the weekend between two Pro Mod Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette dragsters.

Yesterday, NHRA Pro Mod racer Jeremy Ray of Lugoff, South Carolina was involved in a spectacular crash during the first round of eliminations at the Menard’s NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties. Ray’s 1963 Corvette Pro Mod dragster broke loose, turned to the right, crossed the lane, and then rolled hard into the guard wall. Thankfully Ray exited under his own power, but was taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. The 1963 Corvette Pro Mod will need a rebuild.

That wasn’t the only crash from the weekend.

Shortly after Ray’s Corvette incident, Pro Mod drivers Todd Tutterow of Lewisville, North Carolina and Steven Whiteley of Grand Junction, Colorado, had a collision between their Camaro Pro Mod NHRA dragsters. Tutterow’s 1968 Camaro lost grip near the finish. When Tutterow attempted to regain control of his Camaro, it swerved into the left lane, and crashed into Whitely’s Camaro in the right lane after the finish line. Like earlier, both drivers exited under their own power, and proceeded back to their respective tents.

Stevie Jackson won the event overall with a 5.747-second pass at 251.72 mph in his  Bahrain1 Chevrolet Camaro, picking up the final round win over Clint Satterfield’s 5.933 at 251.58, also in a Camaro. It’s the sixth of twelve races for the 2019 E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service. The action picks up this weekend, on June 14-16, at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee.

Written by Manoli Katakis

Muscle Cars & Trucks was founded by Manoli Katakis - an automotive media veteran that has been covering the latest car news since 2009. His journalism has uncovered dozens of major product changes, updates, plans, and cancellations long before automakers were ready to make things official.

Some highlights over the years of his reporting include the uncovering of the Zora trademark before anybody else reported on the coming of a mid-engine Corvette, as well as the dead-accurate reporting of the coming of the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, two years before it hit the market, and even before the debut of the concept vehicle. This type of reporting has immediately continued here, with reports of the original seventh-generation Camaro plans being shelved, as well as what's in store for the Chevrolet Silverado.

Some of his work can be found on massive automotive media outlets, such as Motor1. He also has been a guest on the 910AM Radio Station with Detroit News auto critic Henry Payne, as well as the enthusiast-oriented Camaro Show podcast.

Over the years, Manoli has interviewed various automotive industry titans, leaders, and people that make things happen otherwise. These include figureheads such as GM CEO Mary Barra, GM President Mark Reuss, automotive aftermarket icon Ken Lingenfelter, Dodge firebrand Tim Kuniskis, along with various chief engineers of vehicles such as the Ford F-150 & Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro & Corvette, and many more.

At MC&T, Manoli is taking his journalism expertise, deeply planted sources, driving abilities, and automotive industry knowledge to new levels, covering more vehicles and brands than ever before. This is the place where you will continue to read groundbreaking stories about American performance vehicles, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Here is where you’ll also read insights and quotes from various automotive subject matter experts on the latest relevant products, as well as some of the latest official news from their manufacturers.

Fun facts: he also once beat Corvette Racing driver Tommy Milner in an autocross with a Chevrolet Bolt EV. The biggest vehicle he’s ever driven is a John Deere mining truck. Besides a go-kart, the smallest vehicle he’s driven has been a Hyundai i10. He’s also spent time in the cockpit of various American performance vehicle icons, including the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, Dodge Challenger Demon, and Ford Mustang GT350R. He has reviewed dozens of trucks, SUVs, and performance vehicles over the years.

One of his favorite new vehicles on the market today happens to be the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison. He is also a card carrying member of the Sports Car Club of America, and regularly participates in Detroit Region autocross events.

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