Gordie Rivera, longtime NHRA Pro Stock racer from Yuma, Az., crashed his Pontiac GXP during Friday afternoon qualifying.
Rivera’s Pontiac appeared to break something in the left rear forcing the car sideways and into a slow roll onto its roof where it skidded to a stop after crossing into the right lane.
He climbed out of the car under his own power.
Gordie Rivera, longtime NHRA Pro Stock racer from Yuma, Az., crashed his Pontiac GXP during Friday afternoon qualifying. 
Rivera’s Pontiac appeared to break something in the left rear forcing the car sideways and into a slow roll onto its roof where it skidded to a stop after crossing into the right lane.
He climbed out of the car under his own power.
Defending Pro Stock Champion Mike Edwards went down to Rivera’s pits after the qualifying session was over. Edwards didn’t see the wreck as it happened. It was later when he saw the damage to the race car and his heart sank.
“I didn’t see it,” said Edwards. “I don’t want to see anybody wreck, specially Gordie Rivera; he’s a good friend of mine. He doesn’t race full-time. He’s local.
“It cost a lot of money to do this and Gordie’s been doing it a long time. I hate to see anything happen to him. I just came from his trailer. It just destroyed his car and now he says he’s done.”
Edwards offered to do whatever he could to help Rivera get the car repaired. Ironically, according to Edwards, Rivera was set to step out of the car at the end of this year turning the driving duties over to his son.
