Johnson Dies in Top Fuel Crash

Blaine Johnson, the NHRA Winston top fuel points leader, died Saturday from injuries suffered when his car went out of control going 300 mph during qualifying for the U.S. Nationals.

Johnson, 34, died at 5:17 p.m. EDT after several hours of surgery at Methodist Hospital, nursing administrator Connie Nimereala said.

Nimereala said the exact cause of death was not known, though hospital officials earlier said Johnson suffered critical head injuries and multiple fractures of his left leg in the accident.

“It is a tragedy that has hit a great family,” NHRA spokesman Denny Darnell said. “It’s a tragedy. That’s all I can say.”

Johnson is the first top fuel driver to be killed at an NHRA national event since February 1971, when Pete Robinson died at the Winternationals at Pomona.

Johnson, of Santa Maria, Calif., twice slammed into walls after his engine malfunctioned just after he crossed the finish line at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Johnson had just completed a track-record run of 4.612 seconds, good for the No. 1 qualifying spot, when the accident occurred in the shutdown area in the left lane.

After the engine on Johnson’s dragster malfunctioned, the resulting debris cut a rear tire and sent the car out of control. Johnson hit the left retaining wall, crossed over to the right lane and hit the right retaining wall.

A four-time NHRA top alcohol dragster champion, Johnson has won three races this season, his third in top fuel. He has led the points standings after all but one of the 14 races this season.

Johnson opened the year by winning the Winternationals in Pomona. In March, he won the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., and last month won the Autolite Nationals in Sonoma, Calif.

Johnson also won the Winston Select Invitational at Rockingham, N.C., an event that did not count toward the season standings.

Entering the U.S. Nationals, Johnson led second-place Kenny Bernstein by 113 points in the season standings.