TWO KIND OF DRAG RACERS

Words and photos by Greg Burrow

After the 2012 NHRA Gatornationals this year, John DiBartolomeo wrote in the July 2012 issue of Drag  Racing Action, thanking everyone for their help and support after his encounter with the wall in Gainesville, Florida.  A fellow photojournalist named Bruce Biegler had reminded John that there were, indeed, “Two kinds of drag racers, those who have crashed and those who haven’t… yet.”

This being said, the week leading up to the June edition of the famous Big Dog Shootout, had begun to add a few more names to the list. Starting with Todd Tutterow’s crash in St. Louis at the ADRL event, four other names went up on the board, for a grand total of five in about ten days. 

Edward Wilson's Willys that crashed during first round competition

Fortunately no serious injuries were incurred, with the exception of Gilmer Hinshaw, owner of Piedmont Dragway in his Top Sportsman Cobalt. During the Big Dog event, Edward Wilson got his Tommy Mauney built ’41 Willys up on two wheels during the first round of competition while competing against Jason Harris’ Warbird. Edward came out of this with a cracked tail bone and a broken Willys. The event continued.

Earl Farmer (left) crashed while running against John Lassiter (right) for the Renegade win

Later in the eventing, during the final round of Renegade competition, Earl Farmer would destroy his RaceTech GTO while competing against fellow GTO driver, John Lassiter. Earl was shaken but OK.