Driver walks away from spectacular crash

American drag racer Larry Dixon is thanking his lucky stars after walking away unhurt from a spectacular crash in Florida.

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) driver was helpless as his car broke apart while racing at almost 450km/h, with fans gasping as the vehicle flew high into the air and crashed into a retaining wall at the Auto-Plus Raceway in Gainesville.

The three-time NHRA champion somehow managed to walk away unharmed from the wreckage of his Top Fuel car and waved to the crowd as he left the track.

While Dixon escaped serious injury, he did reveal that his back and knee were a bit sore, although it's clear from the video footage that it could have been much worse for the 48-year-old.