DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — At least 28
NASCAR fans were injured Saturday when large chunks of debris, including
a tire, sailed
into the grandstands when a car flew into the fence at Daytona
International Speedway on a frightening last-lap accident in
the second-tier Nationwide Series race.
The crash began as the field closed in on
the finish line and sent rookie Kyle Larson's car sailing into the fence
that separates
the track from the seats.
Large chunks of Larson's car landed in the grandstands. The car itself had its entire front end sheared off, with the burning
engine wedged through a gaping hole in the fence.
Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood said 14 fans were treated on site, and 14 fans were taken to local
hospitals. Chitwood did not give any updates on their conditions.
Volusia County spokesman Dave Byron said six people with serious injuries were taken by ambulance to Halifax Health Medical
Center in Daytona Beach.
"Those six met the condition of trauma patients," Byron said, adding one person was also taken to Halifax in Port Orange.
That injury was not serious.
Lindsay Rew, a spokeswoman for Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center, said its Daytona Beach hospital had one fan there
who was in good condition. She said they were expecting three more people who were coming by ambulance, but she didn't yet
know their conditions.
"There obviously was some intrusion into the fence and fortunately with the way the event's equipped up, there were plenty
of emergency workers ready to go and they all jumped in on it pretty quickly," NASCAR President Mike Helton said after the
accident. "Right now, it's just a function of determining what all damage is done. They're moving folks, as we've seen, to
care centers and take some folks over to Halifax Medical."
As emergency workers tended to injured fans and ambulance sirens wailed in the background, a somber Tony Stewart skipped the
traditional post-race victory celebration.
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.
"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."
The accident spread into the upper deck and
emergency crews treated fans on both levels. There were five stretchers
that appeared
to be carrying fans out, and a helicopter flew overhead. A
forklift was used to pluck Larson's engine out of the fence, and
there appeared to be a tire in the stands.
Daytona President Joie Chitwood waited by steps as emergency workers attended to those in the stands. Across the track, fans
pressed against a fence and used binoculars trying to watch. Wrecked cars and busted parts were strewn across the garage.
"It's a violent wreck. Just seeing the carnage on the racetrack, it's truly unbelievable," driver Justin Allgaier said.
It was a chaotic finish to a race that was
stopped nearly 20 minutes five laps from the finish by a 13-car accident
that sent
driver Michael Annett to a local hospital, where his Richard Petty
Motorsports team said he would be held overnight with bruising
to his chest.
The race resumed with three laps to go, and the final accident occurred with Regan Smith leading as he headed out of the final
turn to the checkered flag. He admittedly tried to block Brad Keselowski to preserve the win.
"I tried to throw a block, it's Daytona, you
want to go for the win here," Smith said. "I don't know how you can
play it any
different other than concede second place, and I wasn't willing to
do that today. Our job is to put them in position to win,
and it was, and it didn't work out."
As the cars began wrecking all around Smith and Keselowski, Stewart slid through for the win, but Larson plowed into Keselowski
and his car was sent airborne into the stands. When Larson's car came to a stop, it was missing its entire front end. The
20-year-old, who made his Daytona debut this week, stood apparently stunned, hands on his hips, several feet away from his
car, before finally making the mandatory trip to the care center.
He later said his first thought was with the fans.
"I hope all the fans are OK and all the drivers are all right," Larson said. "I took a couple big hits there and saw my engine
was gone. Just hope everybody's all right."
He said he was along for the ride in the last-lap accident.
"I was getting pushed from behind, I felt like, and by the time my spotter said lift or go low, it was too late," Larson said.
"I was in the wreck and then felt like it was slowing down and I looked like I could see the ground. Had some flames come
in the cockpit, but luckily I was all right and could get out of the car quick."
It appeared fans were lined right along the fence when Larson's car sailed up and into it.
"Honestly, the race itself pales in
comparison to the injuries sustained by the fans," said Chip Ganassi,
the team owner who
has Larson in his driver development program. "Our thoughts and
prayers go out to all the fans that were injured as a result
of the crash. As for Kyle, I am very happy that he is OK."
Keselowski watched a replay of the final accident, but said his first thoughts were with the fans. As for the accident, he
agreed he tried to make a winning move and Smith tried to block.
"He felt like that's what he had to do, and that's his right. The chaos comes with it," Keselowski said. "I made the move
and he blocked it, and the two of us got together and started the chain events that caused that wreck. First and foremost,
just want to make sure everyone in the stands is OK and we're thinking about them."
Keselowski said the incident could cast a pall on Sunday's Daytona 500.
"I think until we know exactly the statuses of everyone involved, it's hard to lock yourself into the 500," Keselowski said.
"Hopefully, we'll know soon and hopefully everyone's OK. And if that's the case, we'll staring focusing on Sunday."