NASCAR Car Racing Event Ended into an Upsetting note
At least 28 NASCAR fans were injured on Saturday when large chunks of debris, including a tire, sailed into the grandstands when a car flew into the fence at Daytona International Speedway on a frightening last-lap accident in the second-tier Nationwide Series race.
Two of them critically during a jaw-dropping crash . The crash began as the field closed in on the finish line and sent rookie Kyle Larson's car sailing into the fence that separates the track from the seats. The multicar crash occurred near the end of the Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300 race at the same Florida track where Sunday's Daytona 500 will be held. Reigning Sprint Cup champ Brad Keselowski, who told he and others were simply "going for the win" was among those involved, while Tony Stewart somehow emerged unscathed and finished by winning the race. Driver Kyle Larson's vehicle ended up flying into a fence that separates the track from spectators. It broke into pieces including tires and a fiery engine. Larson walked away from the crash, even after the front part of his No. 32 car was completely gone. He and the other nine drivers involved told reporters that they were checked at a medical tent on the Daytona infield and released. Some of the shredded debris flew into the barrier, while others got into the stands some of it reaching the second level about 20 feet up. Fourteen fans were treated at an on-site medical facility, while 14 others were transported to area hospitals, speedway president Joie Chitwood told reporters."I'm just hoping everyone is OK," said Keselowski. "As drivers, we assume the risk But fans do not."NASCAR president Mike Helton earlier told ESPN, which was broadcasting the race, some people were taken to Halifax Health Medical Center. He said the protective fence did its job in preventing potentially more injuries and possibly deaths. Byron Cogdell, a spokesman for the hospital, told that his facility was treating 12 patients. Two of those one of them a child are in critical but stable condition. "Everybody appears to be in stable condition," Cogdell said. Staff at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center were treating one person and expecting three more, spokeswoman Lindsay Rew said Saturday evening. The injured include Eddie Huckaby, a 53-year-old Krum, Texas, resident who suffered a leg gash when large piece of metal hit him as he was watching the race, his brother Terry Huckaby told. He described the motor landing in the stands, as well as a wheel "and everything flying over your head and debris everywhere.""He's doing fine," Terry Huckaby said of his brother, who underwent surgery at Halifax Health Medical Center. "The first thing he said, 'I don't want to miss that (Daytona 500) race, but I have to watch on TV.'" Accidents are nothing new to NASCAR, where cars often cruise at speeds topping 190 mph, nor to the Daytona track. One of the sport's most horrific, and well-known, wrecks happened in the 2001 Daytona 500, when famed driver Dale Earnhardt Sr. was killed also, on that race's final lap.Still, injuries and fatalities to spectators are much rarer.With the stands having been quickly evacuated, crews worked to repair the damaged fence. Chitwood expressed confidence the 55th edition of the Daytona 500 would go on as planned, with spectators even sitting in the same seat struck by debris Saturday. Volusia County spokesman Dave Byron said six people with serious injuries were taken by ambulance to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach. 'Those six met the condition of trauma patients,' Byron said, adding one person was also taken to Halifax in Port Orange. That injury was not serious. "With the fence being prepared tonight to our safety protocols, we expect to go racing tomorrow with no changes," Chitwood said. There were no injuries among the 12 drivers involved in the crash, including the stars Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Brad Keselowski, the 2012 Sprint Cup champion. All were examined at the infield care center and released.Saturday's accident occurred at the front of the pack of racecars athey rounded Turn 4 and headed toward the finish line. Regan Smith, driving the No. 7, was leading and was being pushed by Keselowski. As they approached the end, Keselowski attempted to pass Smith, but Smith blocked him from trying to get to the outside. That led to the crash at the front of the pack that collected 12 racecars in all. Larson was hit by several cars when his car went into the air. "I was getting pushed from behind, I felt like, and by the time my spotter said lift or go low, it was too late," Larson said. "I was in the wreck and then felt like it was slowing down and I looked like I could see the ground. Had some flames come in the cockpit, but luckily I was all right and could get out of the car quick." As for the cause of the crash, Smith took the blame. "I tried to throw a block coming off of 4," he said. "I knew Brad was going to go make a move. It's Daytona; you want to go for the win here." At a press conference, that lasted just 8 minutes, Daytona speedway president and NASCAR's senior vice president for racing operations Steve O'Donnell said that the Daytona 500 race would go forward tomorrow as previously scheduled. 'We are in the process of repairing the facility, and we will be ready to go racing tomorrow,' Daytona International Speedway said in a statement. Read more...
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