The 2016 NHRA Chevrolet Performance US Nationals have already provided some amazing and fun to watch action in the form of wheelies, track records, and header flames for days, but there was one moment that everyone at Lucas Oil Raceway would like to rewind the hands of time on and stop before it happened. That moment was when Bucky Hess suffered a crash in his stunning Kandy Kuda SS/AH 1968 Barracuda.
During the Mopar Hemi Challenge Hess was the number one qualifier and was sitting in the strongest running car of the weekend. When he staged up next to Steven Hebert from Louisiana in the semi-final round the whole place was cranked up to see these low eight second missiles charge down the track next to each other. After pulling a wheelie and landing, the engine suffered a massive failure, showering metal and liquid onto the track and worse, under the rear tires of the car.
Once the big rear slicks got into the slop, Hess was essentially along for the ride and for a moment it looked like the stunning car may actually spin out in the center of the track but instead it nosed into the wall and then rotated, mashing the rear quarter panel along with its front end. Hess was uninjured and yes, it could have been worse but the whole track was deflated to see one of the most beautiful drag racing cars of all time in this shape.
Hess is not sure if he is going to rebuild this car or start from scratch. We’ll keep you posted.
What a bummer! Glad he’s okay. With his talent, can you imagine how beautiful a new build will be?
I can’t see Bucky replacing that car. As long as car still tracks straight, rebuild it. It is one of my favorite cars. Don’t throw it away!
Sorry to hear that, and IIRC, didn’t he have another crash in the last season or two?
Yup, found it, it was 5-23-14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWE-9jTbBO0
No one said it was easy, just glad he’s been able to walk away !
That one could have been really ugly!