NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Drag racing is full of unexpected moments, but what happened to Jason Collins during Sunday's Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series action at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals may rank among the most unbelievable scenes of the season.

As Collins rolled through his burnout in the quarterfinal round, disaster struck when the removable steering wheel in his Pro Mod machine came loose and detached completely from the steering column. Suddenly, Collins found himself hard on the brakes and headed for the Christmas Tree at  Bristol Dragway with the most important control in the car sitting in his hands instead of attached to the race car.

The veteran driver wisely brought the car to a stop near the Christmas Tree, prompting a brief delay while crews and officials assessed the situation. From the starting line, it appeared Collins' day might be over before the race had even begun.

Instead, it was only getting started.

After reconnecting the steering wheel and ensuring everything was properly secured, Collins backed up, re-staged, and prepared to race as if nothing had happened. What followed was remarkable.

Despite the interruption and the unusual circumstances, Collins gathered himself and delivered a winning run, defeating Travis Harvey to advance to the semifinals. Collins powered to a 5.786-second pass at 247.79 mph while Harvey encountered problems and slowed dramatically, giving Collins the victory and one of the most memorable moments of the weekend.

For a driver, losing a steering wheel during a burnout is the sort of situation that instantly shifts attention from competition to safety. The fact that Collins not only recovered from the incident but then turned on the win light moments later left fans and competitors shaking their heads in disbelief.

Thunder Valley has a long history of producing unforgettable moments, but few have matched the combination of drama, improvisation, and determination displayed by Collins on Sunday afternoon.

One thing is certain: this is one of those NHRA moments that simply has to be seen to be believed.