Breaking: Car into stands at Daytona Nationwide race!

[BDKJMU]

Horrific last lap crash. Scores injured. # of fatalities at this point unknown.

[BDKJMU]

Fans injured during horrific wreck

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A horrific multicar crash moments before the end of the Nationwide Series race Saturday at Daytona International Speedway caused Kyle Larson's car to become airborne into the frontstretch catch fencing, shearing off the front half of the car and leaving large pieces of the vehicle inside the fencing.

Sergeant John Creamer of the Daytona Beach Police said 17 fans were injured with two suffering "major injuries." Eleven were sent to Halifax Medical Center, with one adult in surgery with head trauma and listed in critical condition. The other major injury is to a 14-year-old. Six fans were transported to Florida Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, and are expected to be treated and released.

At least one tire from Larson's car flew into the seating area at Daytona. Police officers and NASCAR safety officials quickly ran to the location where part of the car went through the fencing, destroying one section of the catch fence.

Initial photos showed several people being placed on stretchers in the grandstands. One woman's leg was bleeding as she was carried away.

"Right now, the function is to determine what damage was done," NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "They are taking some folks to Halifax Medical Center. Our prayers and thoughts are with everyone they are working on."

Larson climbed out of what was left of his car. He was not hurt.

"I hope all the fans are OK," Larson said. "I took a couple of big hits and saw my engine was gone."

The engine from Larson's car was sitting on the front walkway of the grandstand, along with one of the wheels.

"I was getting pushed from behind," Larson said. "Before I could react, it was too late. Flames came in the cockpit, but I was able to get out of the car quick."

Twelve cars were involved in the crash as the leaders headed for the finish line. Tony Stewart won the race, and Sam Hornish Jr. finished second.

Stewart, who won for the 19th time at Daytona and seventh time in the last nine season-opening Nationwide races, was in no mood to celebrate, skipping the traditional post-race victory celebration.

"The important thing is what going on on the frontstretch right now," said Stewart, the three-time NASCAR champion. "We've always known, and since racing started, this is a dangerous sport. But it's hard. We assume that risk, but it's hard when the fans get caught up in it.

"So as much as we want to celebrate right now and as much as this is a big deal to us, I'm more worried about the drivers and the fans that are in the stands right now because that was ... I could see it all in my mirror, and it didn't look good from where I was at."

Fans Injured in Motorsports Events
Saturday's horrific Nationwide Series crash at Daytona wasn't the first in which fans were injured. Here's a look at some other events in which spectators were hurt due to an on-track incident:

• April 2009, Talladega: Seven fans were injured when Carl Edwards' car slammed into the catchfence at the end of a Sprint Cup race.
• May 1999, Charlotte: Three fans were killed and eight others were injured when a three-car crash took place in Turn 4 in a IndyCar Series race. It would be the final race at Charlotte for the series.
• July 1998, Michigan: Three people were killed and six others were injured when Adrian Fernandez wrecked in Turn 4 during CART's U.S. 500.
• May 1987, Indianapolis: A fan, Lyle Kurtenbach, was killed while attending the Indy 500 when he was struck with a loose tire from the car of Tony Bettenhausen (Roberto Guerrero actually hit the tire, which sent it into the grandstands).

-- ESPN Stats & Information

Driver Michael Annett was transported to a local hospital after his car slammed head on into the SAFER barrier. Annett was treated for bruising on his chest and underwent a CT Scan. He will be kept overnight for observation.

No drivers were hospitalized after the last-lap crash.

Regan Smith was leading and had Brad Keselowski right on his back bumper. But Smith's car suddenly spun to the right and shot up the track, triggering the huge crash.

"I tried to throw a block," Smith said. "I knew Brad was going to make a move. It's Daytona. You have to go for it. We were coming to the checkered flag. You want to win. I don't know how you can play it any differently, other than conceding to second place, and I wasn't going to do that."

The race had restarted with two laps to go after a 13-car accident caused it to be red-flagged.

"We've always known this is a dangerous sport, but it's hard when the fans get caught up in it," Stewart said in Victory Lane. "As much as we want to celebrate, I'm more concerned about the fans and the drivers right now. We want to put on a good show, but not at the risk to fans. There's no easy solution on these types of track." Keselowski took a deep breath as he left the infield care center.

"After watching the replay, my reaction is the same as everyone else and that's hoping everyone in the grandstands is OK," Keselowski said. "I felt I was in position to win it and made what I thought was the winning move. Regan moved to block it, and that's his right."

Helton said an incident like this shows safety is ever-evolving.

"The biggest thing we know is we don't know everything we need to know," Helton said. "We have things happen we've never seen before. We're always made aware of the fact that we don't know everything."
http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/nation ... nwide-race" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Screamin_Eagle174]

From what I've read there's 6 seriously injured in the stands.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnHRCeUcDL4[/youtube]

[BDKJMU]

I'm sure the ambulance chasing attorneys will be fighting to get a piece of the scores of lawsuits to come...

[BDKJMU]

One of the personal videos shot feet from near where one of the tires landed. Don't know how long it will be up, as NASCARhas been having the personal videos shot by people pulled off of Youtube:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr0DcsY1EI0[/youtube]

[BDKJMU]

NASCAR press conference at 7 PM stated 28 injured. 14 taken to area hospitals, 2 critical. 14 treated on site.

[93henfan]

This happens from time to time. Hopefully everyone comes out OK. Sounds like two were hurt pretty bad.

This is why I never sit in chicken bone alley at any track.

[AZGrizFan]

Ban race cars.

[SuperHornet]

Guess who was NOT involved in that wreck....

[uofmman1122]

Guess who was NOT involved in that wreck because she had to pull out of the race 31 laps in and never had a shot?

Fixed.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Guess who was NOT involved in that wreck....

About 6,973,738,433 people.

[clenz]

Guess who was NOT involved in that wreck....

Guess who couldn't make it more than 32 laps into the race before fucking up and not being able to continue?


You're a fucking dipshit.

[93henfan]

Guess who was NOT involved in that wreck....

Guess who couldn't make it more than 32 laps into the race before fucking up and not being able to continue?


You're a fucking dipshit.

Some things go without saying.

[grizzaholic]

Guess who was NOT involved in that wreck....

Guess who couldn't make it more than 32 laps into the race before fucking up and not being able to continue?


You're a fucking dipshit.

She blew up. It happens.

Do YOU need to be such a pompus asshole all the time? You sure have been Holier Than Thou lately. Does a woman in NASCAR really bother you that much? Or is it the attention? Did you get all uppity about Tiger when he broke onto the scene, and still, because of whatever...while all of the other golfers get little to no TV time? Do you think Griffin/Luck/Wilson shouldn't have gotten all the hub-bub?

[clenz]

Guess who couldn't make it more than 32 laps into the race before fucking up and not being able to continue?


You're a fucking dipshit.

She blew up. It happens.

Do YOU need to be such a pompus asshole all the time? You sure have been Holier Than Thou lately. Does a woman in NASCAR really bother you that much? Or is it the attention? Did you get all uppity about Tiger when he broke onto the scene, and still, because of whatever...while all of the other golfers get little to no TV time? Do you think Griffin/Luck/Wilson shouldn't have gotten all the hub-bub?

They all accomplished something, other than being a fucking side show that is slightly below fucking average.

Tiger - best golfer in history (or top 2 or 3)...completely revolutionized the sport, the marketability of the sport, and broadened the fan base by hundreds of millions. I think the way he is covered is over the top, especially compared to the way Phil, Rory, Luke Donald, Snedeker, etc... have been playing the last year or so. However, Tiger still finished last season top 5 in golf's ranking system and is second this year

Griffin/Luck/Wilson were 3 of the top QB's in the league last year...not just rookies...Griffin and Wilson may finally be changing the way we view the QB position. Many of tried before, they might actually be doing it. Luck is probably the best pure QB to come out of the draft since Manning, who was probably the best at the time of the draft since 1983's class. They've already performed better/accomplished more than Danica has in 8 years driving professionally.


In 8 years of driving professionally SHE HAS ONE FUCKING WIN...OVER FUCKING SEAS...IN 2008. She, including today's Nationwide, she has raced in 244 races WITH ONE FUCKING WIN and just 6 poles. She was the first female to win the Daytona pole...great...She can drive really fast when no one else is on the fucking track. Let's see what she does when other cars are around here. She has 12 DNF's in 59 NASCAR races...more than all of her top 10's combined. Her average career finish is 26th. If you'd take the tit's off of her and give her a cock she wouldn't even be signed to a fucking race team.

[kalm]

She blew up. It happens.

Do YOU need to be such a pompus asshole all the time? You sure have been Holier Than Thou lately. Does a woman in NASCAR really bother you that much? Or is it the attention? Did you get all uppity about Tiger when he broke onto the scene, and still, because of whatever...while all of the other golfers get little to no TV time? Do you think Griffin/Luck/Wilson shouldn't have gotten all the hub-bub?

They all accomplished something, other than being a fucking side show that is slightly below fucking average.

Tiger - best golfer in history (or top 2 or 3)...completely revolutionized the sport, the marketability of the sport, and broadened the fan base by hundreds of millions. I think the way he is covered is over the top, especially compared to the way Phil, Rory, Luke Donald, Snedeker, etc... have been playing the last year or so. However, Tiger still finished last season top 5 in golf's ranking system and is second this year

Griffin/Luck/Wilson were 3 of the top QB's in the league last year...not just rookies...Griffin and Wilson may finally be changing the way we view the QB position. Many of tried before, they might actually be doing it. Luck is probably the best pure QB to come out of the draft since Manning, who was probably the best at the time of the draft since 1983's class. They've already performed better/accomplished more than Danica has in 8 years driving professionally.


In 8 years of driving professionally SHE HAS ONE FUCKING WIN...OVER FUCKING SEAS...IN 2008. She, including today's Nationwide, she has raced in 244 races WITH ONE FUCKING WIN and just 6 poles. She was the first female to win the Daytona pole...great...She can drive really fast when no one else is on the fucking track. Let's see what she does when other cars are around here. She has 12 DNF's in 59 NASCAR races...more than all of her top 10's combined. Her average career finish is 26th. If you'd take the tit's off of her and give her a cock she wouldn't even be signed to a fucking race team.

That's disgusting Clenz!

[JayJ79]

I'm sure the ambulance chasing attorneys will be fighting to get a piece of the scores of lawsuits to come...

I would think that the tickets to any sort of motorsports event would include a disclaimer about the possible dangers of flying debris/cars/etc, similar to disclaimers on baseball tickets.

Logic would dictate that spectators attend those events at their own risk. Of course, logic doesn't always apply to legal matters, it seems.

[JayJ79]

This just proves that men can't drive worth a damn.

(kidding. but you KNOW that so many people would be making similar claims if it was a woman that was involved)

[DSUrocks07]

This just proves that men can't drive worth a damn.

(kidding. but you KNOW that so many people would be making similar claims if it was a woman that was involved)

People were talking about how Hispanics drive after Montoya crashed into a jet dryer a while back.

Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk 2

[JayJ79]

this has nothing to do with the particular topic, but it popped into my head when watching Daytona.
Are there any black drivers in NASCAR? (I would guess no. Not b/c I have any presumptions against the driving ability of african americans, but b/c of the redneck culture of the sport, and socioeconomic factors)

[93henfan]

this has nothing to do with the particular topic, but it popped into my head when watching Daytona.
Are there any black drivers in NASCAR? (I would guess no. Not b/c I have any presumptions against the driving ability of african americans, but b/c of the redneck culture of the sport, and socioeconomic factors)

There have been black drivers in NASCAR for decades. None have had stellar careers. Wendell Scott was the pioneer. Broke the color barrier in the 50s. Even had one win on the main circuit.

And this is not a joke. I met him. The second one was named Willie T. Ribbs.

JGR recently signed a brother named Darrell Wallace Jr. He's supposed to be good.

[BDKJMU]

One of the personal videos shot feet from near where one of the tires landed. Don't know how long it will be up, as NASCARhas been having the personal videos shot by people pulled off of Youtube:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr0DcsY1EI0[/youtube]

Same video I posted above. I posted it shortly after I heard NASCAR had blocked the videos. It must have been unblocked shortly before I saw it on YouTube.

NASCAR blocks eyewitness video of Daytona crash, but YouTube reverses the takedown
http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/23/40225 ... wn-daytona" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CAA Flagship]

Other wrecks involving airborne cars hitting the fencing:

Bobby Allison
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wySxP-tWZQU[/youtube]

Richard Petty
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnYk4Hfzs_c[/youtube]

[BDKJMU]

Carl Edwards Talladega 2009, looked like Allison's crash into the fence at Talladega in 87'. Was like de ja vu. Edwards crash even looked worse, but this time the catch fence, stronger than it was in 87', held. Best closeup of crash starts at the 1:10 mark.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nlytg1bYI0[/youtube]

[93henfan]

I think the solution for NASCAR is to keep the existing 22' catch fence at the super speedways, eliminate crossover gates (which looks like was a major factor in the breakup of Larson's car), and then put up a secondary, higher catch net up to about 50' high. It would be largely transparent to fans (think NHL's end netting over the glass or baseball's behind the plate netting). The backup netting would have hopefully prevented the tire and larger debris from entering the stands once they cleared the catch fence.