No one said that drag racing is safe. In fact, if any recent coverage of the motorsport is any indication, drag racing is a rather risky hobby. However, whether a part of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) or not, tracks all across the country have guidelines for racers and cars that insure minimal risk to drivers and spectators at drag racing events, and for good reason. Case in point- the above.

The video was shot at the Dallas Raceway on September 18, 2010 at the True Street Qualifying event. John Mathis’ ‘69 Camaro is lined up against a Yenko Deuce, a 427cui Yenko Nova that we hope is a clone since the driver seems to have no problem thrashing it on the drag strip.

With a quick drop of the lights, the Camaro, driven by Cedric Ingram, takes off clean against his Yenko competitor, but then something goes wrong. With the back wheels skidding to the right around the 60-foot mark, the Camaro turns into the wall hard with an explosion of sparks. The car then proceeds to turn across both lanes of the track, hitting the barrier on the opposite side before coming to a rest.

In crashes like these, it isn’t unheard of for drivers to be severely injured and require emergency medical treatment. However, thanks in part to strict track guidelines and also some luck, Ingram steps out of the Camaro at his own will, seemingly unscathed.

While a closer look at the car around a minute into the video reveals an incredibly wrecked car and a turned in steering wheel from Ingram hitting it with his chest, it is safe to say that had safety regulations not been in place and enforced, this wreck could have resulted in a much dimmer outcome.

So while those pesky tech inspections or regulations that cost a bit of money to obey are not always fun in drag racing, they do serve a purpose- saving your life when the unexpected happens on the track. Hopefully you’ll never have to endure a crash that will test how well those regulations keep you safe like Ingram, but it is videos like this that remind us they are a good thing to have regardless.