In a scene that even Hollywood couldn't script, a single-engine plane crashed onto the Pomona Dragstrip during the NHRA finals on Sunday, injuring several and momentarily swapping race cars for runway debris.

The unexpected skyfall disrupted the high-speed festivities at the NHRA finals, as a Piper PA-32 veered off course and collided with several vehicles, leaving behind a trail of twisted metal and a perplexed audience. While thankfully only a few injuries were reported, the FAA has formally launched an investigation—because nothing says 'drag racing' like a surprise aviation act.

The incident unfolded precisely at 11:40 a.m., just as the excitement was building for the day's racing events. Spectators were likely treating it like any other day at the races when a light aircraft decided to join the fray—albeit involuntarily. Somehow, gravity and aerodynamics don’t mix well with drag racing, and the mid-air maneuvers resulted in havoc on land.

Reports indicate that the plane struck between two to five vehicles and a trailer, resulting in a cacophony of engine roar and metal crunching that even the most dedicated fans at the dragstrip couldn't ignore. Among the wreckage, one truck, in particular, suffered severe damage.

Injuries were sustained by at least three to four individuals, yet remarkably, no fatalities were reported. The exact nature of those injuries remains unclear, leading many to ponder whether one might have been an unfortunate case of whiplash from watching the plane plummet rather than the cars speeding down the strip. The irony of injuries occurring at a high-octane racing event is likely not lost on the involved parties, some of whom might just be calling their insurers from the pit lane.

With the spectacle suspended and the surge of adrenaline suddenly halted, the NHRA officials swiftly acted, putting safety protocols into motion. Racing resumed at 1 p.m., mere hours after the airborne debacle, like a well-crafted pit-stop for the heart rates of a certain group of spectators who perhaps hadn’t expected to see a mid-air drama on what was meant to be an earthbound day.

The aircraft originated from Apple Valley and was reportedly en route to Brackett Field Airport, a trip that seems to have taken an unfortunate detour. It’s unclear whether the pilot mistook the dragstrip for a runway or decided to take 'crash landing' to a new level of interpretation. Either way, an unintentional detour of that magnitude certainly leaves much to be speculated upon.

Witnesses at the scene were left scratching their heads. One reported seeing the truck severely damaged by the plane. Such moments have no doubt enriched plenty of stories to tell, along with the obligatory calls to friends bragging about witnessing 'the most insane thing at the NHRA finals.'

As is often the case with aviation incidents, the FAA has stepped in to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Their inquiries will largely revolve around how a plane came to dance with trucks on a dragstrip. Let’s be honest; the last thing drag racing needs is an unscheduled air show filled with unexpected run-ins not rehearsed in any pilot’s checklists.

As the dust settles—both literally and metaphorically—on a dramatic day that blurred the lines of competitive racing and airborne surprises, the NHRA finals will remain unforgettable not for the roaring engines, but for the sudden silence that followed the crash. Perhaps next time, race organizers might want to ensure that planes stick to the sky and cars remain on the track. After all, if participants wanted a three-dimensional event, they could have just called it a free-for-all demolition derby.