Accelerating to 200 mph in 660-feet, clocking 60-foot times well under a second, and pulling upwards of 3 G’s (an accelerative force equivalent to three times the drivers’ body weight), a 4,000-plus horsepower Pro Modified car is making hay in a hurry in the early part of a typical run. Because the already minimal amount of downforce hasn’t yet taken full effect as the car navigates the first couple timing sectors, any miscues or mechanical woes can be and often are disastrous — the car is simply pulling so hard that before a driver can even process a problem, he or she is already into the wall or the other lane.

Such was the scenario last weekend for veteran Pro Modified competitor Jose Gonzalez, who lost control of his ProCharger-boosted Chevrolet Camaro in the opening round of competition at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at the zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gonzalez, a native of the Dominican Republic who has been competing stateside exclusively for more than a decade with considerable success, had qualified third with a 5.67 from his Pro Line Racing Hemi-powered machine and was competing as the top seed in the second of four opening round quads when an oil line reportedly broke just off the starting line, dumping oil under the left-side slick. Before the charging Gonzalez could react, the Camaro turned sideways and plowed the guardrail. After a brief attempt at climbing up and over the wall, the Q80 Racing machine turned away from the outside guardrail, careened across the zMAX surface, and slammed hard into the opposing guardrail.

Fortunately, Gonzalez emerged from the wreckage without injury, and with more than a month to repair of prepare the same car or a backup machine from his stable, Gonzalez is unlikely to miss a beat following the unplanned excursion in the Carolinas. Gonzalez and company had entered the Four-Wide event second in the points, thanks to a hot-start victory at the season-opening Gatornationals; the early exit at Charlotte bumped him back one spot, 68 points behind leader Justin Bond.