Drag racing at over 200 mph leaves little room for mechanical failures, especially when the car involved produces several thousand horsepower. Even the smallest problem can turn a record-breaking run into a terrifying experience in seconds.
American drag racer Brett LaSala knows that better than most after an eventful weekend at Florida’s Bradenton Motorsports Park. His heavily modified Ford Mustang, affectionately known as the Snot Rocket, delivered an extraordinary performance before suffering a frightening incident.
LaSala has spent years establishing himself as one of the fastest competitors in the small-tire drag racing scene. His latest challenge involves pushing the limits of stick-shift racing, where drivers must manage enormous power through a manually shifted transmission.
Unfortunately, his second event in the category ended with the Mustang suffering extensive damage at an astonishing speed. The good news is that LaSala walked away without injury, despite the violence of the incident.
A World Record At 233 MPH
The in car footage is crazy. https://t.co/6CimhJJV2K
— skrap (@m_box15) October 5, 2026
The weekend started spectacularly when LaSala recorded a 6.458-second quarter-mile pass at 233.44 mph during the FL2K event. According to DragZine, the run established a new world record in the outlaw stick-shift category.
The Mustang covered the first 60 feet in just 1.207 seconds before reaching the eighth-mile mark in 4.350 seconds at 185.72 mph. It then gained nearly another 48 mph over the remaining distance, demonstrating just how much power the car was producing.
Underneath the bodywork sits a twin-turbocharged, 302-cubic-inch Coyote V8 built by Fast Forward Racing Engines. The 4.9-liter engine is said to produce over 3,000 horsepower and sends that power through a Grannas Racing ATLAS manual transmission.
LaSala had only recently converted the Mustang from Limited Drag Radial competition to outlaw stick-shift racing. Setting a record during his second appearance made the achievement particularly impressive.
The Left Rear Tire Exploded At 228 MPH
Disaster struck during Sunday’s elimination rounds while LaSala was racing against Josh Manning and his Corvette. Near the end of the run, the Mustang’s left rear 275-width radial tire suddenly came apart at approximately 228 mph.
The failure was violent enough to tear away substantial sections of the Mustang’s rear quarter panel, door, and bumper. Video footage captured the frightening moment, showing the damage unfolding almost instantly at extreme speed.
LaSala later confirmed on social media that he was unhurt and described the incident as his first race car crash. Considering the speed involved and the extensive damage to the Mustang, escaping without injury was an enormous relief.
The Cause Is A Mystery
Exactly why the tire failed hasn’t been established. Some observers reviewing the event’s broadcast footage believe a foreign object may have entered the tire’s path shortly before the failure.
There has also been speculation about a possible tool or other debris, although no evidence has confirmed those theories. Until further information emerges, attributing the failure to a particular object or mechanical problem would be premature.
LaSala Wants The Mustang Back Racing Within A Month
Despite the damage, LaSala is already looking toward the World Cup Finals at Maryland International Raceway in November. His team hopes to repair the Mustang in time for qualifying, leaving roughly a month to complete the work.
That won’t be an easy turnaround considering the amount of bodywork destroyed during the incident. Still, the Snot Rocket had demonstrated its record-setting potential only two days earlier, giving the team plenty of motivation to get it back on track.
One thing is for sure: the weekend will be remembered for an incredible 233-mph record and a frightening tire failure at nearly the same speed. Most importantly, LaSala survived to race another day.