American Drag Racing has been stunned by another fatality, the third this year. In a statement released by the NHRA Top Alcohol dragster racer Mark Niver, 60, from Phoenix, was named as the driver.

Niver’s Top Alcohol dragster failed to stop in the braking area after his parachutes came off the car at the end of his run.

The car went into the gravel trap at the end of the track before hitting the catch netting designed to slow the cars safely in the event of just such an accident.

Footage of the crash shows the car folding in two at the point of impact, medical teams were on hand in seconds but Niver was later pronounced dead.

Niver’s death is the second in a month at an NHRA event. Fellow Top Alcohol driver Neal Parker, died of head injuries after crashing his funny car during a qualifying round at the NHRA SuperNationals in June.

Both incidents recall the death of Top Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta in 2008 who died when his Nitro Funny Car went straight on at Englishtown New Jersey.

In response to the Kalitta’s death, the NHRA shortened the distance of all Nitro fuelled classes to 1000 feet.

After this second death in as many months the call will no doubt be made for this move to be extended for all classes.