Pomponio Racing Crash

For Immediate Release: May 5, 2008
Contact: Dan Pomponio 3
4 Martin Place
Berlin, NJ 08009-1509

dan109p@hotmail.com



Pomponio Crashes at Atlanta

Dan Pomponio crashed his Nitro Fish Top Alcohol Funny Car on Friday, April 25th , at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta. On his first qualifying run, the right pilot-chute went under the car and wrapped around the right rear axel damaging the rear brake line. The pilot chute then ripped off shredding the right parachute causing it to tangle in the left parachute. With no rear brakes and no parachutes, Pomponio drove into the sand at a high rate of speed, hit the safety net, sending the car into somersault, where the car ultimately landed upside down and facing the starting line approximately four car lengths after the safety netting. Pomponio is fine and only had a slight sore foot.
The Pomponio Racing team would like to thank everybody for the phone calls
and emails about the crash. A special thanks to all those in Atlanta who offered help and concern especially the NHRA Safety Safari for their quick actions and tremendous effort. The team is accessing the damage to the car and plans to be back racing soon.

X X X

 

The Good Guys

For everyone that knows Dan and his whole family and crew, they are the nicest people in the sport. You never want to see this happen to anyone, but when it happens to someone as nice as Dan, it really hurts. I saw Dan at Atco this past weekend, and seemed to be in good spirits and was his usual upbeat self. He is a class act, and and an incredible driver. We can only hope to see him back out real soon and have his family back out with our family here in Div 1.

 

Pomponio racing

A few years back I remeber clearly the day we met Dan, He came to us and asked to permission to hang and watch our maintenece routine and day to day work at an event. To atleast me it felt kinda cool they picked us to to watch and gather info as to the goings on in the alky funny class. Not long after that we got word Dan licensed and was on his way. I've had the privelage to get to work on their car a few times and they are a class act. FAMILY>> you won't meet a nicer group of people as Michael said. I know they will be back out there and more determined than ever. The race car did not fair very well but thank god Dan and his team are ok. As i told you guys anything I can do to help call (its only a 6 hr commute) :} See ya soon right!!
The guy who manages to get in to all your videos and pics
Scott.

 

If he had an onboard camera. That would be one to see.

Glad he wasn't seriously hurt.

 

camera

Just so happens they did have a camera !! Kinda eeerie to watch after seeing it unfold in real time. Whats amazing is being told all the things he did in that short amount of time to try and get it stopped and and finally realizing it was not going to stop, but had the mindset to keep her straight and nose it in as best he could. NO THANKS you drivers earned my respect!! These cars are animals and it takes true talent and big cahones to drive them. Doubt Danny will post the video, but as Dan mentioned the Saftey Safari was on the spot as usual and did a great job controlling the situation. Thank you for taking care of our brother!!!!
Scott TAFC 17.

 

Best of luck to the team to get it all patched up and back out very soon.

Thankfully, Dan wasn't hurt.

If you guys have a chance, keep us posted on your progress.

Take care,
nancy