Ed Note: After computer failure on Friday, which made our same day coverage extremely difficult, followed by a very late finish Saturday night, DRO reporter Jeff Burk took Sunday off to travel and recuperate but finally here are the rest of the results and photos from the 55th Annual World Series of Drag Racing, the oldest continuous national event in drag racing.
Cannonball’s last run!
Cannonball Johnson has the steering wheel cranked over to the right on the burnout, crossed up in typical AA/FA style.
We’ll pick up the coverage with the crash of Carl “Cannonball” Johnson’s Hemi-fied ‘23-T Fuel Alt. Johnson was matched up against Kevin Newburgh. Cannonball made a typical Fuel Altered burnout and then on the launch the T went hard right and impacted the wall, knocking the driver unconscious. The car then went across the track and slammed into the left side wall. It then motored down the track and slowed to a stop.
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As you can see from these photos the car wasn’t badly damaged but the driver was hurt badly enough that the cage had to be cut off.
Johnson was taken to the nearest trauma center by a “life flight” helicopter where he received medical attention. He later checked himself out of the hospital against the doctors’ wishes and returned to the track.