When it comes to nightmare scenarios at the track, two cars tangling up at the stripe ranks very high on that list. Last weekend at the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals drivers Shane Westerfield (left side of your screen) and Jeff Jones (right lane) came what looked like less and an inch away from each other at the finish line.
While the cars did not physically munch each other, you will see that Westerfield’s parachute blossomed right in the windshield of Jones’ car and then the spill plate on the Jones car was damaged effectively driving through the Westerfield parachute.
What’s interesting to watch is how the Jones car is acting for the entirety of its run. From the hit of the throttle the car was kind of unsettled and trying to dart around. driver Jeff Jones was fighting it and winning that fight for most of the way down the track, then for whatever reason as he approached the finish line, the car decided it was going right whether he wanted it to or not.
Alky funny cars are not machines driven with a gentle hand and slight steering adjustments. You steer it like you hate it and Jones was doing just that. We’re wondering if and when Westerfield saw the Jones car inches away from him at speed!
We’re glad that this one did not turn out bad and the only necessary repairs were a parachute and a wing spill plate. Full on contact at 260+ would have been a disaster.
Confused ex NASCAR driver?