U.S. Army Top Fuel team crew confronts Mother Nature

April 29

U.S. Army Top Fuel team crew members Joe Veyette and Tyler Clouser knew the weather on the way from Indianapolis to Royal Purple Raceway was going to be quite challenging, but little did they realize just how serious it would become.

As Veyette and Clouser directed the U.S. Army team’s race car hauler down I-55 in Mississippi last Wednesday afternoon en route to the Houston area, the skies suddenly turned dark and threatening.

“We knew from the radio reports it was going to be bad,” said Veyette. “But, to be honest, we weren’t prepared to come face-to-face with a tornado. Frankly, it was pretty scary. You always hear about how unpredictable funnel clouds can be so we really didn’t know what we should do – it all happened so fast.”

Veyette and Clouser followed the lead of their fellow motorists by stopping their truck on the highway. They were set to jump out and lie in a ditch, but everything was over with the snap of a finger.

“It was just a matter of seconds,” said Clouser. “As the tornado went in front of us, we were able to see the debris field circulating around the cloud. It was unbelievable – there were tree limbs, shingles and other things we couldn’t identify.”

Upon completion of their trip, Veyette and Clouser heard about the devastation that occurred in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.

“It’s just incredible,” offered Clouser. “Having now gotten that close to a tornado, I don’t think I want to experience that ever again.”