Full Throttle

Sprint Cup qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway is under a red flag due to a horrifying crash by Michael McDowell with his Toyota shamming into the turn one SAFER Barrier.

It’s a testament to both the barriers and the new safety features designed into the new car he was able to walk away from the incident.

UPDATE: Quals have resumed after a delay of over an hour.

“I just felt a little bit off like something wasn’t right,” McDowell said after emerging (with a smile) from the infield care center. “I don’t know if it was the oil dry or something happened. I tried to gather it up, but as soon as I turned back to the right, my tires hooked up and I started rolling down from there. I felt every roll. For me to walk away from that wreck is unbelievable. I’m going to count my blessings.”

Matt Humphrey of NASCAR Nuts & Bolts has posted a video of the crash.