Crazy race with lots of Cup cars in the field! I started watching on a restart with 15 laps to go.
Caution is out with 5 laps to go, Michael Annett hits the wall.
Green, White, checkered restart. Crazy race heading toward the checkered flag turns into a massive crash with Kyle Larson’s car going into the catch fence and losing the front of his car as the engine and a tire becoming embedded in the fence. The other wheel flew over the fence and apparently hit a fan. Also other pieces of the debris hit fans in the grandstands causing assorted injuries.
Press Conference is underway by Joey Chitwood, President of Daytona International Speedway, from Daytona Speedway and Steve O’Donnell Senior Vice-President of Race Operations from NASCAR.
14 people transported off property, some to Halifax Health Medical Center, some to other health facilities in the area, and 14 were treated and released at infield care center. 5 non-trauma related (at least one for heat exhaustion), 7 related to the accident, 12 people were transported to Halifax Health Medical Center; 2 are in critical condition, reportedly one is a minor and one has a head injury. 6 fans were taken to Halifax Health – Medical Center of Port Orange. 1 taken to the Florida Hospital at Daytona Beach. All who were taken to the Halifax Health Medical Center are stable at this time.
Michael Annett has been treated and is going to remain at the hospital.
The fence will be replaced in the section that’s been damaged. The crossover gate will not be repaired for tomorrow, so it will be strict fencing.
Adam Alexander just can’t help asking race relevant questions, but totally irrelevant questions when human lives are involved.
Claire B. Lang actually asked Joey Chitwood to respond to her assertion that the proposed changes to Daytona International Speedway would have prevented the injuries (or the accident). WTF!!!! Seriously Claire???? That’s the best you could do??? But then again I know the answer to that and yes, that’s the best she could do!
The drivers were all treated and released from the in-field care center (except Michael Annett).
Bunny D said “Kyle Larson has had quite a week.” She’s not kidding. He ran over the leader to win one race. He was in a I hope this accident teaches him something that will keep him from doing what he did earlier in the week in the late model race and what Regan Smith did to cause this accident. Bradley K found himself, once again, in a precarious situation coming to the checkered flag at a plate race. Once again a car ended up in the fence. Once again Brad and the drivers are okay, but fans are injured. Regan avowed he will do the same thing in the same situation tomorrow. That’s a frightening statement and highlights the problem with NASCAR’s encouragement of aggressive driving. There’s a difference between aggressive and reckless disregard for life. The dangers of blocking in a restrictor plate race have been proven recently. They were proven in 2009 when Carl Edwards hit the fence attempting to block Brad Keselowski on the last lap of Talladega.
Luckily fans were not injured, but the danger of the move was proven. They were proven last year at Talladega when “Mr. Anti-Blocking 2012 Tony Stewart” attempted to block Michael Waltrip and caused a 22-car pile up. Again fans were not injured, but the potential from injury was displayed. This time many people were injured and yet Regan Smith seems unfazed. I understand that his job is to race for the win, but I also believe the post-race interview was the time to display compassion for the injured as opposed to a steadfast resolve to repeat the same action which resulted in massive damage to cars and people. Regan’s remarks are irresponsible at best, callous at worst.
Ryan Truex opined that NASCAR needs a better design for the catch-fence. That’s a thought, but there’s a point at which it is impossible to imagine all of the freak occurrences that might pop up and require safety measures. Until a puck went above the glass in hockey and caused a death, the NHL thought they were providing the safest environment possible. They made changes once they learned the unimaginable, unthinkable, was a real threat. The same holds true for a wheel flying above the catch-fence and into the stands. Who would’ve imagined the car would’ve come apart in just that manner, in that location, under those circumstances? I’m sure NASCAR will take every possible precaution to prevent this situation or any situation which causes injury to the fans or the drivers. The only perfect catch-fence will be designed at Hogwarts, not NASCAR. It is impossible to design a catch-fence that is impermeable, indestructible, tall enough to prevent anything
from flying over it, yet clear/unobtrusive enough to allow fans an unobstructed view of the action. We all want safety, but knee-jerk reactions like that have resulted in the creation of the TSA and other ludicrous, useless actions. Old drivers constantly complain that NASCAR has too many regulations for them to participate. Let’s not immediately advocate for more regulations without actually studying the situation and determining the best course of action based on the facts.
Adam Alexander reading inane tweets – bad idea! Rarely do most people say anything worth repeating most often. Reading drivers sending their hopes and prayers over and over was such a waste of time. I imagine it was designed to do just that, as well as the interviews with Petty Kyle. In situations like these he needs a co-host capable of ably managing the situation. Adam is a member of the D-team staff of SpeedTV. When something important happens and might be picked up by mainstream media SpeedTV should put its best talent on-air. At least we weren’t subjected to Nicole Trotta, but depth and experience was lacking. I would like SpeedTV to step up to the plate and become the leader in NASCAR, in motorsports, reporting. They need to hire the talent and they need to have them on-air when things happen that require serious reporting. Let Adam continue with the Speed Report (with the bad-porn-voiced-intro). The situation requires the gravity of a Mike Joy or
Dr. Jerry Punch, or Alan Bestwick. Those guys have the talent and experience to impart the information professionally, fill when necessary, and sort rumor from fact. Adam did the best he could. Even Dave Despain would have been helpful since he has the years of experience in broadcasting (hopefully that will translate into the ability to manage and to filter) and the deep voice (that can imitate gravitas). With Adam to assist he could likely keep his mind and his commentary on the situation and off himself for the duration. Most often his self-obsession is my main issue with watching/listening to Dave. He seems to be under the impression that he is the story, as opposed to a talking head reporting on, or commenting on a story.
I join everyone else in wishing the best for those injured or affected by the wreck.