It’s the kind of clip that instantly goes viral: a nose-up launch gone wrong, a Corvette taking flight mid-track during a no-prep test hit at World Wide Technology Raceway. For veteran small-tire racer Jason Hoard, though, it was more than just a wild moment on video—it was a close call that could’ve ended far worse.
Hoard joined The Wes Buck Show just days after the crash to recount the moment his nearly brand-new Corvette lifted off the surface and crashed violently. “Everything was fine. Until the second that it wasn’t,” Hoard said.
“I was fine, and then I literally felt like the car was going backwards. And I [made] myself small in the seat and I immediately thought this is not good,” shared Hoard. “I knew what was going on.”
The crash left Hoard unconscious for several minutes. “I remember the first impact in the left rear of the car, and then I don’t remember anything after that,” he said. “I was out for about five minutes.” Though sore and recovering from what he believes are post-concussive symptoms,
“I’m super sore, and if you saw me moving around, I’d look like a 95-year-old dude,” continued Hoard. He also mentioned that the doctors were concerned about a void around his lungs.
“I’ve been in a bit of a brain fog this week,” he mentioned after stating he had Googled concussion symptoms. “I have some floaters in my right eye. I went to the eye doctor, and she said there’s some bruising.”
The crash took place during a test pass at an unsanctioned event, but because it occurred at an NHRA-sanctioned facility, Hoard’s car was impounded for evaluation. “The NHRA has not released it to me yet, so I don’t have any data from it. I would really like to see it,” he added.

Built by Beilman Fabrication, the Corvette had shown no signs of instability in the 20 passes leading up to the crash. “This one didn’t show any signs of that,” Hoard explained. “We were putting some radial boost to this thing, honestly. Surprisingly, on slicks.”
One of the changes for that pass was activating the torque converter lock-up. “This is the first time I turned on the lockup, and I have a feeling that came on about three seconds in,” said Hoard. “That probably helped pick the front end up.”
Hoard credited his safety equipment and car construction for being able to walk away.
“All credit has to go to Beilman Fabrication, who built the car… the crotch strap, the shoulder straps—everything was perfect. I always crank my straps tight,” he emphasized. “I had a Pro One driving suit, Hans device—all in certification. Just a super well-built car.”
Looking forward, Hoard is unsure whether he’ll rebuild or step back. “That car is destroyed,” he stated bluntly. “I’m going to step back a little bit. I’ve got a nitrous Fox body that’s a lot of fun to run. It’s less stress, less money.”
While his future in high-horsepower builds is uncertain, Hoard remains a strong advocate for safety and smart decisions in today’s extreme small-tire environment. “We’re pressing so hard with these cars,” he said. “You start thinking about how fast these cars are going at small racetracks… I don’t want to see more of this stuff happen.”
Still, he’s not walking away. “I plan on being behind the wheel. I just don’t know what that looks like yet.”
This story was originally published on June 6, 2025.
The post Jason Hoard Talks Viral Corvette Crash, Next Steps on ‘The Wes Buck Show’ first appeared on Drag Illustrated.