08/03/2023
Just another night at the races, that’s what we all think. This is a memory that popped up today from 14 years ago. I think about it every time I’m at the track or even drive by one. We have made a safety zone with concrete blocks in the infield since this night. Here’s how it started. Everything was going great until a sprint car came out of turn 4, clipped a tire, broke the steering and brake line. It then proceeded out of control into the infield where the safety crew and one of our two medics were staged. There was a mound of dirt around the flagpole which the car jumped, one of our crew and a medic were standing there talking, the car hit our crew guy in the back knocking him down and came to a rest on top of him. The medic was pinned between the sprint car bumper and a Pushtruck the blue one in the pictures, it hit with such force that not only were two of our crew trapped, but it pushed the blue Pushtruck into the white one next to it. Through the grace of God, both of these people are here today. The picture of his back doesn’t do it justice, the red marks are burns from the header, along with a tire imprint on his back. The medic, which was his wife ended up with a severe hip injury and a foot injury. It could have been a lot worse! This story is why I preach safety of never turn your back on the track, and always keep your head on a swivel. You are always ready to help a driver, a track worker, or even a fan in the stands, but I hope for your sake you never have to work on one ( or two ) of your own crew, it’s a whole different ballgame. Stay safe out there, and always be aware, things like this can happen in the blink of an eye.