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Geoff Stunkard's
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QUARTER
MILESTONES |
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BLAINE JOHNSON'S LAST
LAP
And other modern era photos by Geoff Stunkard
Anybody who has been a drag racing photographer long enough
will get the opportunity to take historically significant shots.
This area is still under construction, but we have a few items
presently offered here.
 In 1996, the likeable Blaine Johnson was on top of the world.
After a successful move from the alcohol dragster ranks, Blaine
was thundering toward his first-ever Top Fuel Championship. That
was all tragically cut short on this Saturday first-session
pass, when both rear tires were cut down by engine shrapnel and
Johnson was fatally injured, succumbing later that afternoon
despite the best efforts of veteran Indianapolis doctors to save
him. As I wrote in Quarter Milestones at that time, I didn't
return to the track until Monday; it was the first U.S.
Nationals racing fatality at IRP in many years. I found out
after the fact that motorcycle great Elmer Trett had bought it
on Sunday; so it was a less-then-celebratory weekend, and one of
the only times I recall as a photographer that the fifth column
(us media types) was not irreverent. Like John Mulligan before
him, we can only guess at what might have been.
MODERN
PHOTOS
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GSL101 BLAINE JOHNSON'S FINAL RUN - August 31,
1996 8x10 $14.99 Buy
Now!
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GSL101 BLAINE JOHNSON'S FINAL RUN - August 31, 1996
12x18 $39.95 Buy
Now! |
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