A drag racing car crashes into a concrete barrier, with debris flying and smoke visible, while the car is partially airborne and severely damaged.

James Stevens’ 2026 Winternationals crash highlights NHRA safety

April 14, 2026/Jan Wagner/
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Thankfully, in my many decades of covering and participating in motorsports, I have personally seen very few serious accidents…

A race car crashes into a wall at high speed, sending debris, tires, and smoke into the air on a racetrack.
NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Brandon Jones walked away from this, thanks to the safety measures of the track, his car and NASCAR.
A black race car flips in the air during a crash on a racetrack as a yellow race car drives nearby with debris and smoke visible.
IndyCar race at Auto Club Speedway

… but on Saturday, April 11th I witnessed and photographed a truly horrific drag racing crash during the 2026 NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals, at the IN-N-OUT BURGER Pomona Dragstrip.

Early in the day I had shot close to the start area of the races — first from inside the Media Center and then trackside to shoot closeups of the drag racing starts, very near to the left-side protective wall and in front of grandstands packed full of fans. The starts were violent, ground-shaking and painfully loud.

A blue banner displays "75 NHRA" with "1951 Anniversary 2026" indicating the National Hot Rod Association's 75th anniversary.
A person works on a dragster in the pit area of a racetrack, surrounded by other race cars and people, with grandstands and a building in the background.
A sign for Pomona Dragstrip with logos for In-N-Out Burger and NHRA is displayed above seating and glass windows under a cloudy sky.
Several classic and modern cars, including an orange sports car in the foreground, are parked at an outdoor car event with people walking around.
An orange race car accelerates on a drag strip, producing smoke from its tires as officials and spectators observe from the sidelines.
A Corvette warms up its tires, as officials and spectators observe from the sidelines.
Two cars line up at the start of a drag race as officials in red uniforms oversee the event. The track is surrounded by trees and various buildings.
Drag racing event with officials in red shirts watching a dragster.
A photographer with a large camera stands at the edge of a race track, capturing images; two vehicles and barriers are visible in the distance.
We Press photographers may not get any closer to the action — and the DEAFENING, GROUND SHAKING NOISE — than this!
Two drag racing cars at the starting line of an NHRA event, with the In-N-Out Burger building and flags in the background.
Two drag racing cars at the starting line of a racetrack, with crew members and officials standing nearby and sponsor banners in the background.
A dragster car with sponsor logos is on a drag racing track, preparing to start the race as spectators watch and lights signal at the starting line.

I shot some photos there and then left to walk over to the much-quieter areas on the backside of the grandstands to shoot crews working on the cars in the pits, the vendor areas and more, for much of the day.

A large outdoor car show with many people walking among various vendor booths, tents, and parked vehicles in a busy parking lot.
A large crowd walks through an outdoor event with vendor booths and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Crowd of people standing in line outdoors at an event near racing trailers and sponsor banners under a partly cloudy sky.
A woman hands a poster to a young girl while another woman stands beside her, outdoors near a racing team trailer.
Three mechanics work on a drag racing car in a garage, with the rear wheels exposed and various tools and equipment visible around them.
Four team members in black shirts work on the engine of a race car in a garage area, with tools and car parts visible around them.
Jacket with "75 Years of Championship Drag Racing" and an NHRA drag racing design on the back, in red, blue, black, and white colors.
A bronze statue of a race car driver holding a helmet and resting a hand on a tire, with an NHRA 75th anniversary plaque on the base.
Display of automotive transmission components and a Speedmaster-branded electronic control unit, arranged on a black stand labeled "Speedmaster" at an exhibition.
A high-performance supercharged V8 engine with dual carburetors on display, featuring exposed pulleys and belt drive components.
A display of multiple polished engine cylinder heads, arranged vertically on shelves, with the Speedmaster logo visible at the bottom.
A silver racing trophy with a driver figure stands on a table; Speedmaster equipment is displayed in the background.
A military band performs outdoors in front of trucks and an NHRA trailer, with members playing guitar, drums, saxophone, keyboard, and singing.
A band of four U.S. military personnel in camouflage uniforms performs outdoors with drums, keyboard, guitar, and a vocalist using a microphone.
Two motorsports team members sign autographs at an outdoor event. The woman in the center smiles while holding a signed photo. Others wait and watch at the table.
An In-N-Out Burger-themed drag racing car with its body lifted is displayed next to a branded trailer at an outdoor event.
People stand in line at an outdoor In-N-Out Burger food truck under a branded tent, with drinks and supplies visible on tables and in dispensers.
A person holds a cardboard tray containing a wrapped In-N-Out burger and a bag of Kettle Brand potato chips.

Towards the end of the day, I photographed the drag strip from different perspectives.

A large crowd sits in the Prudhomme Grandstand at a racing event, with a press box labeled “Pomona Dragstrip” above them under a partly cloudy sky.
A race car driver poses with an award next to a man, while a TV crew films the scene at a racing event.
A group of eight people, including racing team members and officials, stand outdoors in front of a racing equipment sign.
A large crowd sits in the stands beneath the "Pomona Dragstrip" sign at an outdoor racing event on a partly cloudy day.
A drag racing car does a burnout at a racetrack, with crew members and officials standing nearby, preparing for a race.
Two drag racing cars prepare to launch at the starting line, surrounded by crew members and spectators at a racetrack.
Two drag racing cars launch from the starting line at an NHRA event, with a scoreboard, sponsor signs, and spectators visible in the background.

Finally, I climbed up to the top row of the grandstands, about midway down the track. With my long telephoto lens, I was able to zoom way in and shoot the competitors as they lined up behind the “Christmas Tree,” and then follow them as they raced past me, on their way to the finish line. They accelerated so fast that their races began and were over in barely more than an instant.

Spectators watch a drag race at a stadium with mountains in the background. The stands are partially filled, and sponsor banners are visible above the track.
White flags with red palm tree logos and NHRA Drag Racing logos are displayed on flagpoles against a backdrop of mountains and a partly cloudy sky.
Two drag racing cars line up at the starting line of a racetrack as crew members and photographers stand nearby, with spectators watching from the stands.
A dragster with a tiger-themed SCAG design speeds down a racetrack, emitting green flames from its exhaust.
Two drag race cars speed down a track while smoke rises from their tires; a black SUV drives alongside; spectators watch and cheer in the foreground.
Two drag racing cars speed down a track, flames visible from their exhausts, as spectators watch from the stands.
Two drag racing teams prepare their funny cars on the starting line, with crew members working and spectators watching at a racetrack.
Two drag racing cars on a racetrack prepare to start, with crew members, officials, and spectators standing along the sidelines.
Two race cars deploy parachutes as they slow down on a racetrack after a run, with safety barriers and fencing visible in the background.
Two drag race cars, decorated with sponsor logos, race side by side on a straight track.

I was lightly dressed for the heat of the day, but after the sun set it got cold. The flags stood straight out in the stiff wind. It was not surprising, therefore, that many of the spectators had already left the exposed grandstands. Nevertheless, I stayed and kept shooting.

Two dragster race cars accelerate down a dragstrip, with flames visible from their exhausts, as they compete side by side.
Two drag racing cars speed down a track, one deploying parachutes; electronic displays show elapsed times and speeds as spectators watch from the stands.
Two top fuel dragsters race side by side on a drag strip, emitting flames from their exhausts as spectators watch from behind the barrier.
Two funny cars race side by side on a drag strip, with flames visible from the exhausts and sponsor logos on the vehicles.
A drag racing car deploys parachutes while smoke trails behind it on a racetrack.
A flipped race car sits in a cloud of dust on a racetrack as safety crews and vehicles respond to the accident.
Track safety crew and vehicles attend to an incident on a racetrack, with personnel and equipment gathered near a damaged car behind a protective fence.
A man in a Valvoline Racing shirt stands among a crowd at an outdoor event, with a racetrack visible in the background.
Crew members prepare two drag racing cars at the starting line, with team personnel and equipment visible on both sides of the track.
Two drag racing cars accelerate on a track with flames visible from their engines; spectators and crew watch in the background.
Two drag racing cars speed down a track, with flames visible from the exhaust of the orange car on the left; both cars display sponsor logos.
A group of people sit on bleachers at an outdoor event, with two individuals wearing matching blue NAPA AutoCare shirts.
Two drag racing cars with raised bodies are serviced by pit crews on a racetrack, with race officials and crew members standing nearby. Palm tree silhouettes decorate the background wall.
Two drag racing cars accelerate from the starting line, flames visible from exhausts, with crew members and spectators watching in the background.
Two funny cars, one in blue and yellow NAPA livery and one in black Bond-Coat livery, race side by side on a drag strip, both emitting flames from their exhaust.
Two drag racing cars at the starting line on a racetrack, surrounded by officials, crew members, and safety personnel, with equipment and vehicles in the background.

It was Round 1 of eliminations, and James Stevens, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, had staged his Performance Truck & Trailer Top Alcohol dragster behind the “Christmas Tree,” ready to race. He was in the right-hand lane, next to Garrett Bateman in the other lane. The lights turned green and the race was on.

Two dragsters line up on a racetrack with crew members and officials nearby, as safety vehicles and advertisements are visible in the background.
Two drag racing cars at the starting line on a racetrack, with crew members, officials, and a safety truck in the background.
Two drag racing cars accelerate side by side on a drag strip, with "Machine Inc" and "RepairPal" branding visible on the cars.

As my photos of his shocking, horrific accident show, in an instant Stevens’ dragster turned sideways, crossed the center line, veered back towards the protective wall along the right side of the track and crashed violently into it. That impact and his trajectory launched his dragster up into the air, erupting in a fireball, breaking into pieces and getting badly tangled in the catch fencing. Emergency vehicles — including an ambulance, and members of the NHRA Safety Safari rushed to his rescue.

Two drag racing cars speed side by side down a racetrack, with sponsors' logos visible on the vehicles and track barriers in the background.
Two dragster race cars accelerate side by side down a drag strip during a daytime NHRA event.
Two dragster cars racing side by side on a track, with smoke visible near the rear tires.
A dragster with its front wheels lifted off the ground accelerates down a drag strip during a race.
A drag racing car lifts off the ground on its rear wheels, with smoke coming from the tires on a racetrack.
A green race car crashes sideways into a track barrier, sending sparks and debris flying.
A dragster crashes into a concrete barrier on a racetrack, with debris flying and smoke rising from the impact.
A race car crashes into a barrier at high speed, sending debris and sparks into the air as emergency personnel observe from behind a fence.
A race car crashes near the track barrier, debris and sparks flying, with a black vehicle and camera equipment in the background near "For Lease" signs and streetlights.
A race car crashes and flips over a concrete barrier at a drag strip, debris flying as bystanders watch from a tower; a pickup truck is struck by the car.
A drag racing car crashes into a barrier, its front end raised and rear parachute deployed, with debris and smoke visible around the impact site.
A drag racing car crashes and flips upside down near the finish line, debris and dust in the air, while emergency personnel respond at a racetrack.
A drag racing car crashes and collides with a camera stand near the track, sending debris and dust into the air.
A drag racing car crashes into the side barrier, sending debris and smoke into the air at a motorsport track.
A drag race car crashes and breaks apart on a race track, with debris and smoke in the air as emergency personnel respond; airplanes and buildings are visible in the background.
A race car crashes through a barrier at a drag strip, sending debris and dust into the air; a nearby airport and runway are visible in the background.
A race car crash at a drag strip sends debris and dust into the air, with scattered parts visible on the track and spectators in the background.
A jet-powered dragster crashes at a racetrack, sending debris and smoke flying across the track while spectators and vehicles appear in the background.
A jet-powered dragster crash sends debris and a dust cloud across a drag strip, with small planes parked in the background near an In-N-Out Burger sign.
A drag car crashes, kicking up dust and debris near a racetrack; an In-N-Out Burger sign and parked planes are visible in the background.
A dragster crashes and flips upside down at a racetrack, with debris and dust airborne beneath an In-N-Out Burger sign.
A drag racing car crash sends debris, dust, and smoke into the air near an In-N-Out Burger track sign at an airport drag strip.
A race car crashes into a barrier, sending debris and smoke into the air near an In-N-Out Burger sign at a racetrack.
A drag racing crash sends debris and dust into the air near the track, with a damaged sign and scattered objects visible.
A drag racing car crashes, sending debris and dust into the air near a racetrack barrier; an IN-N-OUT Burger sign is visible in the background.
A race car crashes into a barrier at a racetrack, creating debris and a cloud of dust, with an In-N-Out Burger sign visible in the background.
A fiery explosion erupts on a racetrack, sending debris and smoke into the air near a barrier wall.
A large fireball and debris erupt from a crash on a racetrack near an In-N-Out Burger sign; the scene is filled with smoke and bright flames.
A large fireball and cloud of smoke erupt from behind a barrier on a racetrack, with an In-N-Out Burger sign visible in the background.
A fiery car crash with flames and debris filling the air on a racetrack, partially obscured by smoke and fire.
A race car collides with a barrier and bursts into flames on a drag strip, with debris and smoke filling the air.
A fiery explosion with debris and heavy smoke occurs on a drag strip near an In-N-Out Burger sign and a small airport.
A burst of flames, smoke, and debris rises from a crash against a racetrack barrier, with airplanes and hangars visible in the background.
A crash with visible flames and smoke against a barrier on a racetrack, with blurred airport area and planes in the background.
A fire burns behind a racetrack barrier with thick smoke rising; debris and a helmet are visible on the track in the foreground.
A large cloud of smoke and debris rises from a crash at a racetrack, with flames visible near the barrier and airplanes parked in the background.
Drag racing cars speed down a track as digital display shows race times; spectators watch from grandstand under cloudy sky.

It seemed like an eternity before the “Jaws of life” helped extricate Stevens from the wreckage. He was placed onto a stretcher and lifted into an ambulance. The track announcer said that James was conscious and speaking with first responders.

Damaged race car parts tangled in safety fencing beside a track barrier, with a person in safety gear walking nearby and an In-N-Out Burger sign in the background.
A damaged utility pole and debris lie on a racetrack while emergency responders examine the scene and a responder on a motorcycle looks on.
Safety personnel attend to a race track crash scene with a damaged safety fence, emergency vehicles, and debris scattered near an In-N-Out Burger sign.
Emergency and safety crews respond at a racetrack where a crashed car has heavily damaged the safety fence, with trucks and personnel present at the scene.
Safety crew and vehicles respond to a crash scene at a racetrack, with damaged barriers and debris visible in the background.
Safety crew attends to a race car that has crashed and become entangled in the fence at a racetrack, with emergency vehicles and personnel present.
An ambulance with flashing lights drives on a racetrack, followed by a person in yellow gear riding a scooter.
Crash scene at a racetrack with emergency personnel, an ambulance, a safety truck, and damaged fencing in the background.
Emergency crews respond to a crash scene at a racetrack, attending to wreckage and preparing a stretcher near ambulances and a safety truck.
A drag racing track with emergency vehicles and crew attending to an incident; scoreboard displays elapsed time and speed; small airplanes visible in the background.
A group of emergency responders attends to a crashed race car that is heavily damaged and caught in a fence at a racetrack.
A group of safety crew members stands near a crashed race car entangled in a fence, with emergency vehicles parked nearby on a racetrack.
Emergency personnel attend to a crash scene with a damaged fence and vehicle debris on a racetrack, surrounded by various safety crew members and vehicles.
Rescue crew and emergency vehicles respond to a crash scene at a racetrack, with damaged barriers and personnel attending to the situation.
Emergency responders in yellow jackets work at the scene of a serious crash involving a damaged fence and vehicle debris, using tools to access the wreckage.
Emergency responders surround a damaged race car entangled in a fence at a racetrack, working to assist the driver following a crash.
Emergency personnel in yellow and black uniforms assist at the scene of a crash involving a vehicle against a fence, with several responders attending.
Rescue crew surrounds and assists a person in racing gear next to a damaged fence, with emergency personnel in yellow jackets and helmets.
Safety crew in yellow suits assists and extracts a person from a damaged crash site near a chain-link fence, with bystanders and emergency staff observing.
Paramedics load an individual on a stretcher into an AMR ambulance at a racetrack, surrounded by emergency personnel.

From my vantage point, it was impossible to differentiate between the mangled mess of his car and the catch fencing. Eventually, one piece at a time, a forklift raised and moved what appeared to be an engine, a rear-end assembly and a frame onto a waiting flatbed truck.

A crash scene at a racetrack shows emergency crews and a forklift removing wreckage from a fence, with safety personnel assessing the situation.
A drag racing track scene with emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and staff attending to an incident; timing board displays 5.25 seconds and 268.76 mph. Spectators watch from the stands.
A crashed race car with detached parts lies near an orange construction vehicle as two officials assess the scene.
A safety worker and a wrecked vehicle are next to a large construction forklift on a race track, with car parts and equipment scattered on the ground.
A telescopic forklift lifts an engine block at night during an outdoor event, with workers and equipment visible around the work area.
A tow truck transports a damaged motorcycle and a section of guardrail at night, while a worker in a yellow jacket stands nearby.

According to published reports on April 12th by Susan Wade at https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nhra/a70996611/violent-crash-nhra-at-pomona/ and https://competitionplus.com/nhra-top-alcohol-dragster-driver-james-stevens-crashes-hard-at-pomona/, later that night James Stevens’ daughter Jess Hampton had posted this message on Facebook:

“My dad James is pretty banged up. Sounds like he’s got a broken forearm, broken left wrist, broke his C-7 [vertebra], bruised lung, rib fractures, and possible broken back (again). If you didn’t know, he wrecked at this very same track in 2019. He is in a lot of pain, so please pray for healing and comfort. He will have surgery tomorrow.”

Motorsports sanctioning bodies and manufacturers continually work to improve safety measures, to better protect competitors, spectators, track personnel and others every time racers strap on their helmets, buckle their safety belts, take to the track and compete. Safety is, and will continue to be, their number one priority.

It is truly a testament to the ongoing, ever-evolving safety efforts of the NHRA and other sanctioning bodies that the vast majority of people continue to survive even the most horrific of motorsports accidents, like the one that I witnessed on this cold, windy evening in Pomona.

To see the results and news about the NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals, visit:

https://www.nhra.com/schedule/2026/nhra-mission-foods-drag-racing-series/lucas-oil-nhra-winternationals. Also, visit the NHRA’s special 75th anniversary website at: https://www.nhra75.com.

To explore a wide variety of content dating back to 2002, with the most photos and the latest text, visit “AutoMatters & More” at https://automatters.net. Search by title or topic in the Search Bar in the middle of the Home Page or click on the blue ‘years’ boxes and browse.

Copyright © 2026 by Jan Wagner – AutoMatters & More #924r1

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Jan Wagner

2 Comments

  1. David Sperry on April 17, 2026 at 10:55 pm

    Jan, the coverage of this event was a long day for you, but I find the stop action sequence shots of James Stevens’ accident the most fascinating. Shortly after the start his dragster drifts sideways and goes over the wall. Then the drag chut deploys, and it seems at this point that the engine detaches from the main chassis.

    Then something happens that I don’t quite understand. As the main chassis and chut slide down the far side of the wall, the engine takes off as if launched by a rocket. The chassis with the engine overhead go down the track towards the IN N OUT billboard, with the engine landing ahead of the chassis.

    At this moment the chassis with driver’s pod explode into flames, presumably with Stevens still strapped in. How he survives is a miracle, much like Romain Grosjean horrific F1 accident. So I’m wondering how the engine, which must have been on the tarmac at one time, became airborne.

    How do you capture these stop action sequences? Do you have a setting on your camera for this feature, or do you just press the shutter button as fast as possible? Some of the frames are only milliseconds apart in real time. It would seem to me that your images would be valuable to the authorities investigating the accident. That’s how improved safety measures evolve.

    Great column. David

    Reply
    • Jan Wagner on April 18, 2026 at 9:13 pm

      Thank you for the great comment, David.
      In answer to your question, sometimes I shoot one shot at a time, and sometimes I do bursts. I used to shoot high speed bursts but that used a ton of storage space on my external storage system, and I can never seem to find the time to delete anything. The NHRA crash series was shot in a low speed burst.
      I’ve notified the NHRA and sent them a link to my column. Like you, I too think that the NHRA would want to use these photos to better understand the crash, but I have not (yet) heard back from them.
      Jan

      Reply

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