Top Alcohol Funny Car D.J. Cox was unhurt Saturday at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway in a crash during the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Gatornationals.

His Dixie Construction Chevy Monte Carlo got out of the groove, and he resorted to pedaling the car, but it turned to the left and smashed into the opposite guard wall nearly head-on. The impact shattered the front end of the body and launched it, spraying parts and debris across both lanes. The body came to rest upside down in Cox’s original (right) lane, and the front end of the chassis was mangled and shredded.

Cox exited the tub of the car on his own power and was walking around at the accident site, talking with emergency officials. This was the first brand-new car the Whiteford, Md., racer had driven.

His accident came shortly after Pro Modified driver Mike Castellana crashed hard in a qualifying run and ruined his car but was uninjured.

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