Veteran no-prep racer “Disco” Dean Karns walked away from a frightening top-end crash during elimination rounds at The Outlaws No Prep Shootout at Qlispe Raceway Park.
Facing off against Chevy Reeves, Karns’ eye-catching pink Pontiac Trans Am crossed the centerline beyond the eighth-mile mark before making heavy contact with the wall. The crash brought an abrupt end to what Karns described as one of the best-performing cars his team had ever fielded.
In a message to fans shared on social media, Karns explained what happened from his perspective:
“Moved around a little. Lifted. Zero-percent throttle and the engine deceleration locked the back tires like [I was] on ice since the track is so slick. Just slid every which way but straight,” Karns wrote. “We put so much time, effort, and personal sacrifice into this that watching the best car we’ve ever had turn into a pile of rubble just sucks.”
Karns’ longtime team member Jesse Adams added that safety crews responded quickly and effectively, crediting their calm approach in helping ensure the Ohio-based racer escaped without serious injury.
On Sunday, Karns posted a video update, showing a large bruise on his arm but reassuring fans he was otherwise okay.
“I’m beat up. I’ve got a hematoma on my arm, nothing major. God was looking out for me,” Karns said. “The biggest thing that I’ve seen is that the comeback will be greater than the setback. And that’s what we’re going to try to do now.”
The crash marks a setback for Karns’ “Stinky Pinky” program, which had been building momentum in recent weeks. Still, the Ohio native made it clear his passion remains undiminished:
“We’ll rebuild. I can’t thank everybody enough for the love and support. God was definitely riding with me. We will live to fight another day.”
Photos courtesy of Megan Taylor, Jesse Adams
This story was originally published on August 17, 2025. 
The post ‘Disco’ Dean Karns Walks Away From Top-End Crash at Outlaws No Prep Shootout first appeared on Drag Illustrated.