NHRA driver Larry Dixon walks away from scary crash at Gatornationals

NHRA driver Larry Dixon was able to walk away from a crash on Saturday after his car broke apart while it was going almost 280 mph.

NHRA driver Larry Dixon was able to walk away from a horrifying crash on Saturday after his car broke apart while it was going almost 280 mph. Dixon crashed into the retaining wall at Auto-Plus Raceway in Gainesville, Florida.

According to the Associated Press, it is not yet known what caused the car to buckle and eventually break.

Dixon remained in the cockpit as safety workers reached him. He was alert, awake and talking to safety personnel before they helped him out. He walked to a waiting ambulance under his own power and waved to the crowd.

According to Mark Long of the AP, Dixon is pulling out of Gatornationals.

NHRA driver Larry Dixon on crash: "Last time I did that, I had a helicopter ride. So I've been through worse."

— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) March 14, 2015

NHRA's Larry Dixon: "It's like being on a roller coaster & flying off the track. You wait for the landing & hope everything does its job."

— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) March 14, 2015

The 48-year-old drives for Bob VandergriffJr., and has been racing since his rookie NHRA season in 1995. He has won 62 races in his career, and won the Top Fuel class in 2002, 2003 and 2010.

- Sarah Barshop