---
title: "Gas Monkey Garage’s Richard Rawlings Just Crashed a Hellcat While Drag Racing at Woodward"
description: "The popular car-show TV host was racing NHRA superstar Leah Pritchett."
date: "2018-08-11"
modified: "2018-08-13"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/22817/gas-monkey-garages-richard-rawlings-just-crashed-a-hellcat-while-drag-racing-at-woodward"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
  - "People"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "celebrity"
  - "Crash"
  - "Dodge Challenger"
  - "drag racing"
  - "Hellcat"
  - "leah pritchett"
  - "News"
  - "NHRA"
  - "Roadkill"
  - "Woodward Dream Cruise"
---

# Gas Monkey Garage’s Richard Rawlings Just Crashed a Hellcat While Drag Racing at Woodward

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/08/picmonkey-collage2.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Richard Rawlings, the star TV host of several [car-related TV shows](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/3816/cant-get-enough-of-richard-rawlings-the-gas-monkey-guy-really-you-cant-wow-ok>) on the Discovery Network, crashed while drag racing in the Roadkill Nights celebrity showdown on the famous Woodward Avenue in Pontiac, Michigan.

Rawlings was racing against NHRA superstar Leah Pritchett at the wheel of a [Dodge Challenger Hellcat](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/22708/2019-dodge-challenger-first-drive-review-797-hp-hellcat-redeye-hot-handling-scat-pack-widebody>) when he appeared to spin the tires just a little too long and lost control of the rear end. Rawlings attempted to catch the rear but his slight flick of the steering wheel only sent him straight into the drivers' side concrete barrier. Despite not carrying much speed thanks to a long burnout he did at the start, it’s estimated that he was doing about 60-70 miles per hour when the accident happened. I personally witnessed the crash from the Dodge SRT hospitality trailer, and while it wasn't life-threatening, it's enough to scare the bejesus out of anyone who's not used to crashing into walls at speed.

![message-editor%2F1534030489607-img\_1276.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1534030489607-img_1276.jpg>)
*The aftermath of Rawlings crash., *DrivesWGirls**

![message-editor%2F1534030577257-dsc00134.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1534030577257-dsc00134.jpg>)
*Dodge Challenger Hellcat, *DrivesWGirls**

Needless to say, the crowd had a good laugh at Rawlings expense.

"You showboated all the way into the wall!" a fan yelled at Rawlings as his Hellcat slowly rolled to the finish line. "That sucks big time," he added.

https://youtube.com/embed/oTxJTKeQCwc

Pritchett, who races for the [NHRA](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18110/mopar-and-dodge-srt-double-down-on-the-2018-nhra-season>) championship-winning Don Schumacher Racing team, went on to win the race and moved on to the next round. However, it was former WWE professional wrestler Bill Goldberg who crushed the competition (quite literally) to earn the title of fastest celebrity racer on Woodward Avenue.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)