Thu, 20 Sep 2001, 03:37 PM Competition Eliminator Crash

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A spectacular crash marred opening qualifying for Competition Eliminator on Thursday. Dragsters driven by Brian Olson, from Peru, Ind., and Richard Bourke, from Norwood, N.J., made contact near the finish line. Bourke's dragster went out of control and impacted Olson's machine as the two cars approached the finish. Bourke was checked and released at the scene by NHRA emergency services officials, while Olson was extracted from his Circus City Flyer front-engine dragster and transported to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis for evaluation. Olson was reported to have no visible injuries and was transported as a precaution.