The beginning of a new season of racing is typically a joyous occasion, and so it was for many of the west coast competitors at the Pacific Street Car Association’s Chris Alston’s Chassisworks Nor-Cal Nationals at the Sacramento Raceway Park in California over the weekend. But for a pair of racers in the Outlaw 10.5 division, it was a weekend they’d just as soon have done without.

Paja Agatonovic, in his nitrous-injected, 905 cubic inch 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, was racing alongside Steve Collins in his 632 cubic inch 1966 Chevelle in the semifinal round of Sunday’s eliminations when Agatonovics’ Camaro began to spin the tires and took an abrupt turn across the race track into the direct path of Collins’ machine. Agatonovic tried valiantly to bring the car back over into his lane before the trailing Collins could catch him, but Collins, with nowhere to go, struck the right rear of the Camaro while it was up  two wheels, sending Agatonovic tumbling onto his roof as Collins’ Chevelle burst into flames upon impact and deflected into the left hand guardrail.

Still images of the accident showed the Camaro of Agatonovic resting on its roof after it around, flipped onto its roof, and struck the guardrail tail-first. Immediately following the impact between the two cars, Collin’s Chevelle can be seen almost completely off the ground from the forces of the high-speed hit to the heavy Camaro.

Aside from the usual bumps and bruises, both drivers climbed from their cars uninjured, and their fellow racers were quick to offer their encouragement and support — even some financial support — following the scary incident.

Video credit: blowncofoto.com

Agatonovic indicated via social media that his after a closer inspection, much of the damage to his Camaro is cosmetic and that the chassis, the drivertrain, and the rear end were unharmed. Collins, who works for event sponsor Chassisworks for a living, has plans to get back on the track, be it with the gorgeous Chevelle or another car.

(Lead video credit: Kenny Alcantara)