A
car ramming into the butt end of a concrete barrier or a car flying
over the retaining wall is quite a normal occurrence in NASCAR. These
crashes definitely increase the drama, but they are also the main
impetus for the introduction of new safety systems and practices. One
such incident took place on July 6, 2015, but thankfully, the latest
engineering practices and standards helped limit the damage.
The
last lap of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in Daytona Beach, FL was
made notable when Austin Dillon made the headlines; not for winning
it but for making his car go hurtling through the air. Mr. Dillon's
car flew upside down into a catchfence and then fell back on to the
track. Taking the incident up a notch, an oncoming vehicle hit
Dillon's car after it had landed. Crews ran towards the car to rescue
Mr. Dillon. Everyone was stunned, but fortunately the driver survived
the devastating crash. He was unhurt but several fans received minor
injuries.
The
crash resulted in one spectator being sent to hospital for treatment.
The unnamed motor racing fan was hit by flying debris caused by the
impact of the car with the fence. The President of Daytona
International Speedway reported that they evaluated thirteen
spectators after the crash, but they were happy that the fence had
done its job. Four of the injured spectators received treatment on
site and it is reported that the spectator treated in hospital is in
a stable condition.
Many
people think that Mr. Dillon was quite lucky to survive the crash,
remembering that he was driving the No. 3 car, the same number car
that Dale Earnhardt Sr. had been driving when he was killed in a
crash in 2001.
