Saturday, February 23, 2013

Final Lap Nationwide Crash: Unbelievable



Today's final lap crash will go down in history as one of the worst/exciting crash in NASCAR history.
All the leaders crashed or had damage at the final corner when the field wrecked.  The number 32 car driven by Kyle Larson ended up in the air, into the catch fence, tearing the car into two.  The engine and transmission ended up in the catch fence, inside the fan side of the fence.  However, there is an open area between the fence and the stands, so the car did not end up in the stands.
At this time, there were no reports of injuries of drivers or fans. Video courtesy of The Race Bird


update: per Mike Helton, NASCAR president said there were injuries to fans but didn't know how serious they were.  Some were being sent to the hospitals.
From the Daytona Beach newspaper: A violent multiple car crash occurred at the end of the DRIVE4COPD 300, with the win going to Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 33 Chevy.
The No. 32 car of Kyle Larson was thrown into the wall and the entire front end of the car was torn away. Larson crawled out of the wreckage of his car. The engine landed on the spectator side of a safety wall and was in flames.

At least two people were seen being transported from the scene on stretchers. Medical helicopters were on pit road. Emergency vehicles were on the scene, also.
"There were plenty of emergency workers ready to go. Right now it's just a function to determine what all damage was done," NASCAR president Mike Helton told the ESPN TV audience at 4:35 p.m. "We'll be able to update later on." http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20130223/NASCAR/130229880/1040?Title=Violent-crash-ends-Nationwide-race-
Update 2 from the Daytona Beach Journal Online A violent multiple car crash occurred at the end of the DRIVE4COPD 300, sending debris flying over the grandstand fence at Daytona International Speedway and into the crowds of bystanders watching the race.
Dozens of safety workers went into the stands and have carried several people out on stretchers to a line of at least eight ambulances waiting below and behind the stands. Safety workers appeared to carry patients from at least two sections of the grandstands, while they worked in both the upper and lower decks.
At least some of the debris came from the No. 32 car of Kyle Larson, which was thrown into the wall. the crash tore the entire front end of the car and sent the engine crashing into a fence near one of the grandstand entrances, where it lay in flames. That engine was later removed by track safety officials.
The win went to Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 33 Chevy.

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