Update: NHRA Top Fuel Driver Shawn Reed Sustained Multiple Injuries In Horrific Crash At Seattle
Reed suffers fractured ribs, loses a finger; fan also suffered injuries from debris in the Saturday crash.
BY
SUSAN WADEPUBLISHED: JUL 20, 2025 7:35 PM EDT
SAVE ARTICLE
COURTESY SHAWN REED RACING
NHRA Top Fuel team owner-driver Shawn Reed and the spectator injured by debris from his wrecked dragster Saturday during qualifying at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways are recovering.
Reed was hurt Saturday afternoon when his 12,000-horsepower dragster suffered a right-
rear tire failure as it clocked a speed of 290 mph. That broke the rear wing of his Reed Trucking and Excavating Dragster, sent the car into a cross-track spin nose-first into the opposite-lane wall, then banged the guardwall in his original lane, shooting shattered parts of the car in all directions.
COURTESY SHAWN REED RACING
Shawn Reed was injured on Saturday after his NHRA Top Fuel dragster crossed the center line and went into the wall.
Reed was treated at Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center Sunday morning.
According to the team on Sunday, "in addition to two fractured ribs, the Washington native sustained injuries to his left hand, resulting in the loss of his left pointer finger and requiring that a pin be placed in his thumb."
Reed was already talking about returning to action just one day after the crash.
COURTESY SHAWN REED RACING
Shawn Reed in on the road to recovery and hopes to return to action before the end of the season.
The woman injured by debris from the accident, a fan attending the race and watching beside her family’s motorhome that was parked near the dragstrip, was airlifted to Harborview, as well, as a precaution for a potential head injury, according to Pacific Raceways President Jason Fiorito. She was treated and released around 2 a.m. local time Sunday and is resting at home.
“She has a heck of a headache, and she got some stitches,” Pacific Raceways President Jason Fiorito said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family because they’re part of our family. They were at our track, and they were watching the sport we all love. They’re part of our motorhome fan base. We’re glad her injures aren’t as severe as they could have been.
“This pulls on my heartstrings,” Fiorito said. “The safety of our fans is paramount.” And generally speaking, he said, the safety measures in place at the facility are satisfactory. “It’s an unusual incident. Parts don’t usually fly around.” He said he and his staff will “analyze everything” and see what measures the track might be able to implement to make it even safer.