After a crash on the last lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300, 28 spectators were injured due to debris flying into the grandstands.
“Following the incident we responded appropriately according to our safety protocols, and had emergency medical personnel at the incident immediately,” Daytona International Speedway Track President Joie Chitwood III said. “We transported 14 people off property and treated 14 people at our on-track care center. We’re in the process of repairing the facility and will be ready to go racing tomorrow.”
12 of the 14 were transported to Halifax Medical Centre, including one minor. Seven were admitted to Halifax with trauma related injuries, while five were admitted with non-trauma injuries. Two of them are in critical condition, but all 12 are stable.
The wreck was triggered when Regan Smith threw a block on Brad Keselowski in the tri-oval on the 2.5-mile oval. Contact would ensue through the field, sending rookie Kyle Larson up into the catch fence. Larson’s engine would land on the fans’ side of the catchfence, while one of his tires would land a couple rows up in the stands.
11 cars were all involved in the wreck, including Justin Allgaier, Brian Scott, Sam Hornish Jr., Eric McClure, Parker Kligerman, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Robert Richardson Jr., Travis Pastrana and Alex Bowman. None of the drivers were injured.
There were questions as to whether the track would endue changes before Sunday’s Daytona 500. Chitwood III noted that after each event, they review the track property, looking at both the asphalt and fencing.
“We did that after our Duels and the truck race, we’ll do the same thing to make sure that we’re ready for tomorrow,” he said. “As a property that has been here for over 55 years, we make sure we make the right investments in our property. The only changes that will occur with the fencing that goes back, we will not have time to put the crossover gate that was there, so it will be strictly fencing for tomorrow.”
Larson’s car hit the catch fence where the crossover gate was located. The crossover gate is in place to allow fans to go back and forth from track surface to the grandstands. Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President for Racing Operations was asked if whether they’ll be improvements with relation to that gate in the future.
“I think we look at this after every incident,” he said. “We’ve learned in the past certain protocols put in place today are a result of prior incidents. Again, our initial evaluation is still ongoing. But it’s certainly something we’ll look at. If we can improve upon it, we’ll certainly put that in play as soon as we can.”
The area that Larson’s car hit will be repaired and Chitwood III assured fans who have tickets for that section for the Daytona 500 that they’ll be able to sit there.
“We don’t anticipate moving any of our fans,” he said. “We had our safety protocols in place. Our security maintained a buffer that separates the fans from the fencing area. With the fencing being prepared tonight to our safety protocols, we expect to go racing tomorrow with no changes.”
Moving forward, O’Donnell noted that NASCAR will evaluate everything and try to improve things for the future.
“Certainly when you look at this incident, there are some things we can learn and evaluate,” he said. “We’ll take the car, we’ll do that. We’ll evaluate the fencing and see if there’s anything we can learn from where gates are.
“But, again, really initial right now. I think we need to take the time to really study it and see what we can improve on. If we can, certainly the safety of our fans is first and foremost and we’ll make that happen.”
The full report on the wreck as posted earlier can be viewed by clicking here.
Tony Stewart won the race ahead of Hornish Jr. and Bowman. The full race report can be seen by clicking here.
