Tony Stewart and Doug Kalitta were involved in a serious crash during the Top Fuel eliminations at the Reading round of the NHRA, in Pennsylvania, United States.
The collision occurred when the left front wheel of Kalitta’s dragster broke after he crossed the finish line at over 540 km/h, causing his car to veer into Stewart’s lane. The impact caused Stewart’s vehicle to flip and crash into the guard rail, while Kalitta’s car slid to a stop in the center of the track.
Despite the severity of the crash, both drivers escaped without serious injuries and were released after medical evaluation at the scene. Kalitta, who raced against Stewart in Sprint Car events back in the 1990s, said the tire failure happened suddenly and was unavoidable. His team had to use a backup car to continue in the semifinals.
Stewart, on the other hand, said he didn’t remember anything about the crash and revealed he was unconscious for a few moments. Despite having a headache and an injured left hand, he confirmed his intention to race in the next playoff round in Charlotte. The driver also highlighted the safety of the category’s cars, noting that he has been through worse crashes in his career.
Source: Car and Driver | Photo: X @NHRA | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
.@Doug_Kalitta and @TonyStewart collided during RD 2 of eliminations at the 40th #ReadingNats presented by Nitro Fish!
Both exited the car under their own power.
Tune into FS1 now to see what’s already been a wild start to the #NHRACountdown! pic.twitter.com/xexn48A4mT
— NHRA (@NHRA) September 14, 2025
