Drag racer Mike Austin has won two division championships, an NHRA national event and has twice been named the Top Alcohol Dragster Driver of the Year. But in 25 seasons he's never received the kind of response experienced in the days since his dragster went over the wall and into a retaining barrier at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.
"I can't even answer all the phone calls," said Austin, who lives in Medford, Ore. "The calls are coming from the people in my town and all over the U.S. I can't believe all the compassion everybody has shown. For a little guy like me who hasn't had much attention, it's been amazing."
Thanks to his HANS Device and other safety equipment, Austin walked away from the horrific crash at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals. After the incident that included multiple impacts, Austin now hopes the outpouring of support will help him return to the sport he loves. Without new equipment, he won't be able to continue.
"I come from a small town and I've always been the underdog guy," he said. "I barely had the equipment to get out there and race. I have an itty, bitty house. Everything I have, I've poured into the race car. I've been doing it for 25 years. I was getting closer and closer and now I've lost it all. I'm not going to get out the back-up car and go racing. There isn't one."
Austin counts himself lucky to be able to answer the phone and credits all the safety improvements made by the NHRA over the years. That includes the mandatory use of a head and neck restraint, which has this year been expanded to the Comp, Top Dragster and Top Sportsman classes by the NHRA.
"There was a lot of different impacts and a lot of different angles," Austin said. "I'm still here with no sore neck. I'm fortunate to walk away."
The testimonial was not a surprise for Jim Downing, the president of HANS Performance Products.
"This is another example of the HANS Device working in multiple impacts including those from almost every angle," Downing said. "We get testimonials each week from competitors in all types of vehicles all over the world in many different types of accidents with a lot of different angles. That explains why the HANS Device is relied on by over 130,000 racers around the world."
Austin drove for Steve Federlin in 2010 when he won the Division 6 title and the Nationals at Reading, Pa. Previously he drove for Jerry Madden when he won the Division 7 title in 2005. He's hoping he'll get another chance to just show up and drive.
"When I've had the chance, I've proven I can do it. I just need to get the right situation."
For the short term, Austin is busy at LAD Automotive, his repair shop in Medford.
"It's been extremely good for business," he said of the attention brought by the accident. "My appointment book is jammed. I even had an older gentleman come by who handed me an envelope with $10 in it."
But what Austin really needs is a ride so he can return to drag racing.
"I'm going to knock every door down I can to try to find the right situation," Austin said.
