Shawn Reed update (6 Viewers)

[Chili]

Let’s hope for a speedy recovery.

Update Regarding NHRA Top Fuel Driver Shawn Reed After Sustaining Injuries at the NHRA Northwest Nationals

Shawn Reed, the driver of the Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel dragster, was set up for a successful outing in front of a hometown crowd at Pacific Raceways this weekend for the Muckleshoot Casino & Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals. After a solid start to qualifying, the driver/team owner...

www.shawnreedracing.com

 

[Just Paul]

Update on Shawn Reed after his accident Saturday from the SRR team.

Update Regarding NHRA Top Fuel Driver Shawn Reed After Sustaining Injuries at the NHRA Northwest Nationals

Shawn Reed, the driver of the Reed Trucking & Excavating Top Fuel dragster, was set up for a successful outing in front of a hometown crowd at Pacific Raceways this weekend for the Muckleshoot Casino & Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals. After a solid start to qualifying, the driver/team owner...

bit.ly

 

[Paul]

Damn, lost his finger. Could have been much worse, sounds like he is committed to coming back.

 

[sutton]

Thanks Chris, I didn't think he would be so lucky based on so many I have witnessed. Great news.
Larry Sutton---

 

[Butch]

Good News

 

[z28]

I doubt he would try to drive with broken ribs. Usually 6 to 12 weeks to heal. He is pretty much a lock for 10 th place and the countdown if he heals quickly he could be ready for Redding if not maybe a substitute driver for a race or two if they want to.

 

[stitcherbob]

Crap. I didn't see the qualifying and learned about this after turning on the DVR.
Rob W, please send well wishes to Shawn from all of us.

And we eagerly await the build of the new car

 

[J. S.]

I'm really sorry to hear of Shawn's injuries, but I'm glad it wasn't more serious. I'm guessing his left hand got caught in the steering wheel somehow, as it whipped around during the crash.

 

[Just Paul]

Hopefully Shawn has a speedy recovery. I really enjoy the Reed / Wendland combination and wish them nothing but the best.

We built my oldest son a new car over the winter. He really liked the GESI paint scheme Shawn ran at the end of last year, and he chose that design to use on his car.

Get well soon!!

 

[DixonFan]

I am going to throw this out there. Probably take some criticism for it too. Would he have sustained the injuries to his hand had he been running a canopy? Should it be a requirement now for all drivers to keep them safe from flying parts?

 

[justafan]

Thanks for the update. Been worrying about him since Friday. Watched it live and it was gut wrenching. And the two front tires launching toward the RV area. Hopefully all of them have a speedy recovery.

 

[Just Paul]

I am going to throw this out there. Probably take some criticism for it too. Would he have sustained the injuries to his hand had he been running a canopy? Should it be a requirement now for all drivers to keep them safe from flying parts?

I’ll assume (and I know what assuming gets you) the steering wheel whipped in his hands when it nosed into the wall and the front end came apart.

Shirley had the same thing happen, and basically had her thumb severed when she crashed in Canada.

 

[none]

I am going to throw this out there. Probably take some criticism for it too. Would he have sustained the injuries to his hand had he been running a canopy? Should it be a requirement now for all drivers to keep them safe from flying parts?

Based on zero inside info, I can't imagine how a canopy would have prevented a hand injury. With the arm restraints his hands would not have been able to get out of the cockpit. Whatever hurt his hands, would have had to be (as Paul speculated) inside the cockpit.

Alan

 

[LoPony]

What does this imply for the Goodyear tire construction vs. air deflectors conversation ? I’m sure it didn’t go unnoticed by NHRA that Shawn was really the only capable car running air deflectors. Didn’t go unnoticed by me. Shawn‘s injuries are bad enough, it’s just a matter of time before this tire BS freaking kills somebody.

There have been a lot of these tire failures lately. Is it really that fine of an edge between downforce and temperature that the risk is extremely high now if you’re running air deflectors at over 330 miles an hour? Cars have been running that speed for quite a long time, and this didn’t used to happen until the last couple of years. Track temperature at Seattle was moderate.

No tire failures on a funny car yet, so that’s interesting too. I assume it’s because they’re running way less downforce.

 

[ZWeinstein]

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I’ll assume (and I know what assuming gets you) the steering wheel whipped in his hands when it nosed into the wall and the front end came apart.

Shirley had the same thing happen and basically had her thumb severed when she crashed in Canada.

If I were to guess, without knowing all of the particulars, that is what happened. I know if you watch some of the open wheel guys in particular when they are getting ready to smack the wall they let go of the wheel because of how violently it whips around. I dont know if its because of the butterfly style wheel or the open wheel design of the car but it looks pretty violent when it happens.

I always thought the nitro racers whether Funny Car or dragster wore two sets of gloves on their hands. To tear through both and cause enough damage to lose a finger is pretty catastrophic hopefully whatever happened can be learned from. But most importantly it sounds like Shawn is going to be ok. He is a pretty cool guy, met him years ago when he was running his drag boat and I even spent a day around him and the team earlier this year shooting some photos for one of his sponsors Atro. Hope he is back before too long and Rob if you are lurking, know that you are in our thoughts and well wishes as well.

 

[mick]

from the nhra feed on youtube. clicking play/pause as fast i could, captured this moment on a screenshot.
apparent engine failure a millisecond before tire goes down. edit: just saw another slo-mo video that makes it look like tire came apart first.
no clue. terrible incident. best wishes to shawn and team going forward.

 

[J]

from the nhra feed on youtube. clicking play/pause as fast i could, captured this moment on a screenshot.
apparent engine failure a millisecond before tire goes down. IMO this was not tire failure.

Maybe that explosion is from the tire?

 

[Jack]

I doubt he would try to drive with broken ribs. Usually 6 to 12 weeks to heal. He is pretty much a lock for 10 th place and the countdown if he heals quickly he could be ready for Redding if not maybe a substitute driver for a race or two if they want to.

And the amputated finger hurts for a long time. Ask me how I know. The very best to him on his recovery.

 

[z28]

And the amputated finger hurts for a long time. Ask me how I know. The very best to him on his recovery.

one of my coworkers lost a finger. He said it still itched sometimes 20+ years later

 

[twostep]

from the nhra feed on youtube. clicking play/pause as fast i could, captured this moment on a screenshot.
apparent engine failure a millisecond before tire goes down. edit: just saw another slo-mo video that makes it look like tire came apart first.
no clue. terrible incident. best wishes to shawn and team going forward.

For what it's worth, his crew chief said the engine was intact.

Goodyear will be all over this, of course. Likely an internal failure but it could be as simple as some tiny, sharp piece of metal on the track that cut the tire down or possibly a little something flew off of Shawn's car itself.