Pastorini Escapes as Dragster Explodes
Former NFL quarterback Dan Pastorini escaped injury Saturday when his top-fuel dragster caught fire and exploded as it roared from the starting line of a quarter-mile timing run.
Pastorini, a rookie driver, was not hurt, although his racer exploded in a ball of fire and sent flames and metal flying in all directions at Baylands Raceway Park, a spokesman said.
Pastorini’s car was using an experimental fuel injection system, according to the spokesman.
He was making his first appearance as a race driver in the San Francisco Bay Area since retiring from profesional football.
Pastorini spent a lengthy career in the NFL, playing for the Houston Oilers, the Rams and the Raiders.
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