Four days after a violent crash during the NHRA Northwest Nationals sent him to the hospital, Top Fuel racer Shawn Reed says he’s now taking the first steps to gain a sense of normalcy. Friday was the first day he returned to the office of his trucking company in Tacoma, Washington.
The Reed who stepped into the office under the strict time limitation imposed by his wife, Andrea, is not the same person who left the office last Wednesday.
Reed’s dragster was making a qualifying run Saturday at Pacific Raceways near Seattle when the right-rear tire on his dragster exploded, sending his dragster into a spin and backwards into the wall.
Until that moment, Reed believed himself to be invincible behind the wheel. He discovered otherwise. His green skin tone of numerous bruises are a reminder of just how vicious the crash was.
Reed suffered two fractured ribs and multiple hand injuries, one of which resulted in the loss of his left index finger and the need for a pin to be placed in his left thumb.
“The accident pulled all the soft tissue off of the finger; there was zero saving it,” Reed admitted. “It was not going to stay. Although it was attached at the time of the crash, they knew they would not keep it. There’s no way they could keep it. Maybe they could keep it. I would have zero use of it, which means why? It would just inhibit me from doing anything. I couldn’t golf with it. It’s a big old finger hanging there that’s just stuck in one place, and I couldn’t do anything. But with it gone, I could learn to do anything.”
Reed said he remembered being in the midst of a good run, then suddenly felt like he was on ice … then, nothing more, as the ensuing crash left him unconscious.
Reed described the moments afterward as silent but “almost soothing.”
Despite the severity of the crash, Reed credited safety equipment with preventing serious harm to his legs, knees, and hips. “Nothing down low was affected or bothered,” he said, calling the protection systems “amazing.”
Reed remains uncertain what caused the crash, speculating it could have been tire failure, debris on the track, or mechanical problems. That uncertainty, he said, fuels his apprehension about returning.
Though he professes readiness to race again, Reed admitted he is “scared of hitting the throttle.” He said only medical clearance will determine when he returns to competition.
Reed is scheduled for surgery on the pin in his thumb on Wednesday. He expects a clearer prognosis afterward and hopes to know more about his eligibility to resume racing after the surgery next week.
The best-case scenario is a return at the first Countdown event near Reading, Pa., in mid-September. A worst‑case scenario would push his comeback to the race near Dallas (Oct. 9-12).
With a top‑10 points ranking, Reed is exploring options for a substitute driver if he cannot return in time for the Countdown opener. He said he would consider fielding a replacement to preserve his position, but would avoid spending funds if unnecessary.
Reed has held discussions with several possible fill-in drivers. He said his decision will depend on fit and financial considerations, saying some options include backing from outside funding.
He reiterated that if a substitute is needed, the choice will support his long‑term goals of expanding into multiple classes, including Funny Car. He indicated he is in preliminary talks to do so, but no agreement has been finalized.
Reed expressed gratitude for the avalanche of support from the drag racing community. He said virtually every race team has reached out to him via text, email, or phone. He emphasized how crucial those messages have been during his recovery, and credited his team and NHRA competitors with steadfast support.
Reed also contacted a spectator who was injured by the debris. He reached out to the injured fan’s family and expressed remorse and concern, confirming she had been released from hospital care. He extended an invitation for them to attend a future race as special VIP guests, promising they would be safe and well‑treated.
Reed has used the downtime to reflect on his life and mindset. He said the experience has been emotionally taxing as he processes the crash and its impact.
Reed summed up the experience in one word: resilience. He affirmed that this setback will not deter him from his goals. He vowed to return and continue pushing toward his career objectives.
“You can’t dwell on this stuff,” Reed continued. “If you are ever scared to get in a car, you better just stay out of a car. And this stuff ain’t for the faint of heart. The fans love the crashes. But then, deep down, the fans and the people who have reached out to me have been incredible as well. So, although they love the crashes, they don’t like to see anybody hurt.
“It’s a very difficult thing. But I just see resilience, man. I just see everybody on my team standing with me. This will not stop me from my goals or what I want to do and what I want to achieve. It’s like an alcoholic or somebody who smokes cigarettes: You’re not stopping these things until you yourself want to do it, and this ain’t stopping me. A crash is not going to stop me. And I relayed that to my team, and my team’s got my back. I think the drivers and the other NHRA competitors and teams got my back, and we’re going to march forward and keep going.”
