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Watch these videos of an NHRA racer's bodywork blowing off into a crowd

Just a few months ago, fan safety at racetracks was a hot topic following the last-lap NASCAR Nationwide Series crash at Daytona that sent large pieces of racecars into the grandstands injuring 33 fans. Now, a freak incident at a National Hot Rod Association event resulted in a drag racer's bodywork flying into the crowd at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte over the weekend. The carbon-fiber body of Robert Hight's Ford Mustang funny car blew off toward the end of a run when his engine exploded, but fortunately, the two fans evaluated after the incident were later released without serious injury.
As you can see in the image above, the body flew high into the air before landing on a walkway in front of the grandstands, a bit of happenstance that likely gave most fans enough time and space to move out of the way. Scroll down to watch a couple of videos showing what happened, including one from a fan's perspective that also reveals what appears to be part of the body's metal bracing landing dangerously close to the crowd.

2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid, now with 48 mpg city

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu is already one of the stars of the 2015 New York Auto Show thanks to a huge improvement in styling, lighter weight and new suite of tech. Now, Chevy is shifting the focus to the available hybrid model and detailing some more of its impressive figures. The 2016 Malibu Hybrid's powertrain consists of a 1.8-liter four-cylinder and a two-motor hybrid system with a 1.5-kilowatt hour lithium ion battery. Chevy's engineers are aiming for EPA fuel economy ratings of 48 miles per gallon city, 45 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined. The setup puts out a total of 182 horsepower, and it can accelerate the sedan to 60 miles per hour in a claimed 7.8 seconds. Also, speeds of up to 55 miles per hour can even be reached under fully electric power. Some of this efficient tech is shared with the latest Volt, including the regenerative braking. For reference, the 2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid carries an EPA rating of 44 mpg city, 41 mpg highway and 42 mpg combined, and its hybrid system puts out a total of 188 hp. There is a wait ahead for buyers looking to park the 2016 Malibu Hybrid in their garage, though. While the standard model should be on sale before the end of the year, the hybrid doesn't arrive in showrooms until the spring of 2016. Malibu Hybrid Estimated to Reach 48 MPG in City Driving New sedan projected to offer segment unsurpassed 47 MPG combined 2015-04-01 NEW YORK –The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, which uses technology from the Chevrolet Volt, will offer a General Motors-estimated 48 mpg city, 45 mpg highway – and 47 mpg combined, unsurpassed in the segment, GM President Dan Ammann announced today. Ammann made the announcement at an International Motoring Press Association breakfast before the 2016 Malibu was to be unveiled at the New York International Auto Show. "Fuel efficiency is important to our customers, especially in the midsize segment and with an estimated 48 mpg city rating, the Malibu Hybrid delivers," Ammann said. An all-new direct-injection 1.8L 4-cylinder engine mated to a two-motor drive unit slightly modified from the 2016 Chevrolet Volt drive unit powers the Malibu Hybrid. The drive unit provides additional power to assist the engine during acceleration, for 182 horsepower (136 kW) of total system power. An 80-cell, 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides electric power to the Hybrid system. The advanced lithium-ion based chemistry can power the Malibu hybrid at up to 55 miles per hour on electricity alone.

Best pickup trucks for 2023

In 2023, it seems like there’s a pickup truck for everyone. This wasnÂ’t always the case, as it wasnÂ’t until fairly recently that the midsize truck segment started becoming competitive again, and even more recently that weÂ’ve got choices for economical compact trucks or cleaner electric pickups. As the diversity of choices continues to grow, so does the potential customer base for vehicles with an open bed. Whether youÂ’re looking for something luxurious to drive in style, an absolute workhorse to tow the heaviest of loads, something small and practical, or a dune-blasting monster, youÂ’ve got options. Whatever it is you need it to do, here are what we think are the best pickup trucks for 2023. Before we start really categorizing these trucks, let's go over the scores our editors have given the best-selling pickup trucks in America. Best Full-Size Pickup Trucks for 2023: 2023 Ram 1500: 9.0 2023 Ford F-150: 8.5 2023 GMC Sierra: 8.0 2023 Chevrolet Silverado: 7.5 2023 Toyota Tundra: 7.0 2023 Nissan Titan: 5.5 Best Midsize Pickup Trucks for 2023: 2023 Ford Ranger: 8.0 2023 Honda Ridgeline: 8.0 2023 Jeep Gladiator: 8.0 2023 Nissan Frontier: 7.5 2023 Toyota Tacoma: 7.0 It's worth noting that the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon were redesigned for 2023, and we like them quite a bit. We haven't yet been able to pass them around to all of our editors in order to give them official rankings, but we're certain they'll come out at or near the top. Now, remember what we said at the outset about there being a pickup truck for every buyer? Let's break it down.   Best luxury truck: Ram 1500 Limited With an exceptionally comfortable interior with high-quality materials, excellent fit and finish, plenty of space, useful technology and a wealth of convenience features, this is the cabin in which weÂ’d want to spend the most time. We especially like touches like the ventilated reclining back seat, clever storage and 12-inch vertically oriented touchscreen. All the American trucks can be ultra-luxurious, though. What really seals the deal for Ram is its choice of either coil spring or air spring rear suspension that provide unmatched ride quality, no matter which you choose. The 1500 Limited will truly keep you feeling kingly on those long hauls. Read our review of the Ram 1500.   Best truck for cowboys: Ford F-150 King Ranch (Honorable mention: Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn) Need a truck to match those new cowboy boots and shiny belt buckle?