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Subscribe to RSSMARYSVILLE, Calif. -- A teenage race car driver taking warm-up laps at a California raceway careened off the track and into pit row, killing a 14-year-old boy and 68-year-old man, officials said.
Six or seven cars were on the track Saturday night when the out of control car ran into the two victims, who were standing side-by-side, Yuba County Sheriff's Capt. Ron Johnson said.
Authorities on Sunday afternoon identified the victims a race car owner and the 14-year-old cousin of the teenage driver.
The Yuba County Sheriff's office on Sunday said 68-year-old Dale Wondergem Jr. of Grass Valley and Marcus Johnson of Santa Rosa died after they were struck by a race car in the pit area at the Marysville Raceway Park about 6 p.m. Saturday.
Officials say Marcus Johnson is the cousin of the 17-year-old driver Chase Johnson, who was not injured in the collision.
Wondergem owned a race car at the track, but not the one involved in the crash.
The older man was pronounced dead at the scene at Marysville Raceway Park some 40 miles north of Sacramento, and the boy was declared dead either at the hospital or in an ambulance, officials said.
The raceway was hosting the California Sprint Car Civil War Series on the opening day of its season.
'The car didn't slow down'
Steven Blakesley, the announcer calling the race from the stands, said the sprint cars were doing so-called "hot laps" about an hour before the race when the car driven by Johnson, traveling at about 90 mph, couldn't make a turn.
"There must have been a mechanical problem," Blakesley said. "The car didn't slow down. "
Blakesley said the car ran through a gap between the track and pit row, hit an empty golf-style cart then ran out of the view of the stands, where fans were mostly silent and left to speculation about what was happening.
He said the next thing he was able to see was CPR being performed on two people, and later a body being covered and crime scene tape going up. The names of the victims weren't immediately available.
The bio on Chase Johnson's website said he's a senior at Petaluma High School north of San Francisco and is a fourth generation race car driver.
Blakesley said Chase Johnson had been driving for two years already, and many on the sprint car circuit, seen as a stepping stone to higher levels like NASCAR, began as young as 15 as Johnson did.
He said others on the circuit, where small, high-powered cars race on short dirt ovals, were older drivers whose careers had peaked earlier.
The Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol were investigating to determine the cause of the crash, Ron Johnson said.
An outgoing message on the track's phone line said only that Saturday's race had been canceled, and a message left for a raceway spokesman was not immediately returned.
The Daytona 500 went off as planned on Sunday after a nightmarish crash on the same track just a day earlier. NBC's Janet Shamlian reports.
The race track fatalities come less than a month after a crash on the last lap of a race at Daytona International Speedway injured at least 30 fans Feb. 23. The victims were sprayed with large chunks of debris — including a tire — after a car careened into the fencing that is designed to protect the massive grandstands lining the track.
At another NASCAR race in 2009 at Talladega, the crowd was showered with debris and seven fans were injured when a car sailed upside-down into the front-stretch fence on a furious dash to the finish line, showering the stands with debris. Seven fans sustained minor injuries.
And in 2010 at a National Hot Rod Association event in Chandler, Ariz., a woman was killed by a tire that flew off a crashing dragster at Firebird International Raceway.
Related:
Full motor sports coverage from NBC Sports
This story was originally published on Sun Mar 17, 2013 4:35 PM EDT
Leave a Comment:
I think it's safe to say this guy won't have a NASCAR career.
If you are going to "Speculate" on the 2 nascar races that cars "Littered Debris"onto fans, then make sure to mention that both wrecks were caused by the same driver, Brad Keselowski.
Hummmmmmmm ... Will congress next week ban auto racing? ... perhaps it's to " dangerous & deadly" to allow to continue ..
The difference between auto racing and guns is the auto racing industry will do whatever it takes to prevent deaths, while the gun industry depends on people dying for their sales.
I raced, I LOVED racing and still do. The small tracks do everything humanly possible to make sure fans and drivers are safe. Daytona 500 where Larson hit the front wall: If that safe barrier fence had not been there, Daytona would have had fans "dying" that day. Now all we have are lawsuits. It caught the damn motor for God's sake. Racing is dangerous and we all know that. Those of us who do race and are familiar with the unspoken word of the pits is to make sure "at all times" that you are in a spot where you will not be in danger. Be aware of your surroundings as the pits are always busy. It so sad there is a loss at that track, I've known of two at my local track-not bad stats-in all my years of racing, at least 40 years during the time I raced at Manzanita Raceway. This poor driver is having nightmares and I am so sympathetic for him. There are times on the track where "YOU JUST DON'T HAVE CONTROL THROUGH NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN.!" I know this young man will realize that and forgive himself. It happens to all of us. Watch NASCAR and these guys are pros. Best of luck to this young man and sympathies for the two men who lost their lives.
I have heard some assinine comments in my days but you always take the cake ExYahooUser. That has to be the stupidest thing I have seen. The gun industry does not depend on people dying for sales. It depends on dumbasses like you and the rest of the anti-freedom liberals that want to ban guns. Everytime you guys open your mouths about a ban or restrictions, gun and ammo sales skyrocket. So keep it up and thanks.
The problem is NOT the Driver!
Why in the hell are people on Pit Road while Cars are testing/racing on the Track? I don't know the layout of this Track, but, if a car can go out of control and enter Pit Road, then Pit Road should be off limits to anyone but the Pit Crew.
yeah, this kind of thing doesn't happen with adult, professional drivers. Had the kid more experience he could have controlled the car another way to avoid hitting people. Stop making excuses for him because it's so cute having a young'n doing adult activities
How in the heck is he suppose to get experience if he doesn't practice??? Most of the current NASCAR drivers started out racing go karts long before they were old enough to drive. You obviously don't have a clue about how some one becomes a professional race driver.
Next on the California's Progressive legislative list:
Ban anyone under 21 from participating in any NASCAR race.
Steve-1888700,
This track does not have a pit like NASCAR or indy car. its an open infield with nothing but a few tractor tires around the light posts. The 14 year old was his relative and the other was probably part of his crew or crew of a competitor. This track is no different than hundreds of tracks across the country
Throw him in the slammer.
I thought for sure this was going to be about Danica CrashPatrick, it seemed logical that she will end up killing someone.
The Marysville track has a dirt infield lined with tires, but that is not the pit aera. The pits are at the end of the main straight at the first turn. The pit is blocked by concrete blocks except for the entrance. The pit aera is a protected aera, but things happen even under the best of conditions.
Please, just stop with the "Oh, the solution is to ban it..." comments.
How about an original contribution to the discussion? If you can't say something original and/or interesting, don't say anything at all?
Oh look, 'Tiredoldman' is an expert on race car driving. Have you ever even driven a race car? Probably not- more like some old pain in the azz who drives in the left lane on the highway obstructing traffic or bottlenecking traffic on the roadways going 15-20 mph under posted speed limits.
So his 'experience' as you put it is to go out and kill bystanders so that he can learn? Yeah, that's total genius. Maybe he should have stuck with the go-karts eh? And, professional drivers may have driven those go-karts earlier in life but assured they DO NOT take the wheel of the bog boys cars until much later. Thanks old man, now shut up and stop posting your drivel about topics YOU know nothing of.
Signed, former NASCAR pit crew mechanic, '96 - '06.
Industrialstrength is obviously a clueless idiot. Danica cannot only outrace this pathic piece of trailer trash, but would kick his ass in a fight. Moron!
Steve-1888700
The Marysville track is a dirt track and doesn't have a safety barrier wall surrounding the in-field like a major track does. It does have painted tire barriers, but that's about it.
lol i would call you out on that lie based on your lack of any understanding of this scenario and you just running your mouth. those 2 people killed were not bystanders but part of a crew as you claimed to be once. the sprint car was going 90mph before the pit turn and im just speculating here but trying to turn a out-of-control car on a clay oval track is pretty fking hard.
thats why i called you a liar on your claim to be some former nascar pit crew member, it happens to EVERYONE at some point in racing. ive seen many a nascar driver crash into the pit area in my decades.
swagga'nut'-
Ohh your so many 'decades' qualifies you, watching from the grandstands. Another know-it-all tree-hugging Prius driver who wasn't in the pits like myself. Yeah, talk is cheap 'nut'job. People crash for many different reasons but after verifying with some people I've know during my decades as a professional this was due to inexperience. Besides, like to see you pull a car with failing breaks out of a 90 mph turn into the pit area and NOT hit a bystander. And many drivers have never crashed to such a significant degree as this- so much for your armchair theories.
you all sound like a bunch of 8 year olds arguing weather the ball was foul or not. geezzzz . you people just argue to see yourself argue. Get a grip. it's a care accident, not a political event. lol
There it is... another car death. I really think it's time for Obama to ban cars. After all, drivers don't kill - cars kill. And if we can save just one life, it's worth doing something... That's the dem's rationale for regulation, right?
You have to have a wild hair up your butt too want to be a race driver.
The lower the level of racing - the crazier the drivers. Of the 3 amateur race drivers I know (1 timid and 2 crazy) - 2 of them I wouldn't even ride with on a public road, let alone while they were racing.
Why is a 14yo in the Pits? If I was a woman and my husband wanted to get my son our daughter in to racing or hunting or play hockey - at the age of 12 - I'd think I married an absolute idiot...but, some people give up their common sense very easily.
LOL; I always find a woman that never lets me do stupid stuff - where do you guys find these women that get glossy eyed and buy in to your @!$%#?
2-Sense: How about we make a deal. When the Progressives stop reacting to human tragedy by over-regulating industry in a way that only punishes law abiding citizens, we will stop mocking those regulations.
Having been in racing for a lot of years on local tracks both dirt and pavement accidents do happen just like in NASCAR. Things brake, tires blow and etc. Most small tracks do not have pits like you see on TV and you have to leave the track and normally there a lot people milling around the pits that do not have anything to do with the cars. Most tracks that join the NASCAR body for the small tracks have rules to follow in and out of the pit area. These small tracks do all that is possible to make it safe for the fans, drivers, pit crews and the others that attend the races. Hot laps give the driver and crew a chance to shake down the car for problems and to change the set-up to make the car better for racing. Things happen in hot laps, engines blow, tires blow or wheels come off, A-arms break, tie rods break any number of things can happen. We do not know at this time what happened in this accident and to blame this young man at this point is wrong. You all need to wait until all the facts are in. DO NOT DO THIS YOUNG MAN A DIS-SERVICE BY PUTTING THE BLAME ON HIM THIS SOON, wait for the facts. By the way there are less people killed in auto racing than there people on the open road, just listen to the news.
ProFreedom-5130956 I seriously doubt that you actually ever set foot in a pit area in your life much less worked in one. Next time lie do a little research and you will find out that most NASCAR drivers did start out racing 5HP go carts in there youth. They then moved up sprint and other dirt track racing before the cream of the crop went on to NASCAR. Since you are such an expert why don't you tell me how you suggest people get experience driving race cars if not on the dirt track. Guess you want people with no experience at all getting in a 600+hp NASCAR race car and driving inches away from other drivers at 180+ MPH. While we are at it lets bring back Roman chariot races. There probably would be less bloodshed and death. As far as your ASSumption that I never raced in my life you are far from the truth. I ran many big block B and E-bodies in my youth at the local 1/4 track. Best time was 11.2 on streetable Charger that I drove to the track. Supported my local speed shop for many years with my racing.
Industrial Strength
Danika Patrick is a good safe driver. Still a bit too safe. She is still in the learning period. As to your statement that she is eventually going to kill someone, what do you base that on? All the drivers have some accidents. Is it because she's a woman? There is NO REASON to say what you did other than as pure bullsh!t.
Tiredoldman- well since you 'seriously doubt' so much about my resume you can be my guest. So you were a big time racer of Mopars huh? Gee how did I know what those B & E bodies were? 383, 440, 426 Hemi? Yep, own a couple of Hemi Dodges and build racing engines as a hobby myself.
So what point was it you were trying to make? Hmmm people race chariots, go-carts then move up to 600 HP NASCAR machines? Interesting. Try 750 - 800 HP. Again, how would I know that? And, proof in the pudding, you put a wet behind the ears kid behind the wheel of these machines and it's too high risk. Nobody in their teens should be behind the wheel of a NASCAR, at least not before paying their dues in other racers (not go-carts thank you). Ridiculous!
Racing is dangerous.... and accidents happen.
I didn't realize that spectators were racing...
Accidents happen. on and off the race track. on the highway ,at your job on an airplane a bus a train even in your friggin bathtub. People die from accidents. Nearly everyone of them could have been avoided in some way but they are called accidents because sometimes sh*t happens. You may even take the wrong pill at the wrong time of the day by accident.
Reno our lives would be so non-productive and boring if we eliminated everythiing that could result in accidental death. You can live in a cacoon your whole life but you know what the end result will be. EXACTLY THE SAME. No one gets out of life alive. All you would have accomplished is had an extremely boring life filled with fear of having an accident.
Avenger,
Ummmm,,,,,,, it was "sarcasm" from reno.
Relax man. He could have written exactly what you did and mean it just as well. It's all good...
Enjoy your day off......
My Mom and I were at the stock car races in 1981 in Lake City Florida when a car ran off of the track, into the infield and hit the truck we were sitting in the back of. Someone said we looked like a bunch of quail flying out of bush. My Mom was bed ridden for 6 weeks with 3 broken ribs in her back, I was 8 months pregnant and ended up on the ground watching the wheel of the car that hit us coming towards my head as the driver got back on the track to finish the race.
No post-crash inspection is complete, yet the phrase "must have been a mechanical problem" is already being used. It couldn't possibly be "driver error"? Hmmmm. Does it reduce liability to phrase it that way because "accidents happen"?
MoreAmerican: I guess you have never had a throttle stick at full speed at the end of the straight. From what the announcer has said, it sound like the throttle stuck...a car simply will not turn under those circumstances. I know because it has happened to me. I am guessing that the all cars exit that track at turn one and he couldn't turn the car and it went straight off the track into the pits. Driver has a switch to turn off the motor and probably did that, and was trying to stop, but at that speed, that takes time, which is the one thing he didn't have. It is being reported that the 14 year old was the driver's cousin...Tragic. My best to the driver and the family either way...
I love the sport of racing and have been to many in my days. Most all of the races I have been at you are aware that there are dangers of being at the track. When I worked in the pits with the tow trucks at our local fairgrounds the first thing we were told is ALWAYS KEEP YOUR HEAD UP and watch your surroundings. stuff like this happens in a split second. Its sad for these two people to have lost their lives.... but it is also a known risk you take when you attend the races in person.
I'm just saying that it is odd that people jump to conclusions without any FACTS. Making guesses doesn't cut it. Probably was mechanical, but people are generally "human" and humans are infamous for being morons. At least wait for the toxicology reports to come in. You might be surprised how many teenagers drink booze and smoke dope! Even teenagers who are into racing.
Reno 911
I agree, but until the investigation is complete - no one knows. It's all speculation, which is my point.
A lot of idiots posting on this that don't have a clue....
Attending any public event involves a certain amount personal danger. And read the disclaimer on your ticket sometime (or posted where you purchased it); virtually all of them limit the liability of the organizer to some degree, with you as a spectator assuming at least some liability for your own welfare. Whether it's a small chance you get hit by a ball at a MLB game, or a drunken fan at a NFL game falls on you, you assume the risk. Given the opportunities for both mechanical failure and driver error in motorsports, the risk is higher. You want absolute safety, stay at home and watch it on TV.
And the two causulties in this were not 'spectators'; both were there on pit road in support of one of the cars and in purchasing a 'pit pass' they assumed more personal liability for their own safety. In the case of the 14-year-old, his parents or supervising adult are the 'responsible parties', not the track or the driver.
While my sympathy goes out to the families, accidents at racing events do happen.
I remember it like it was yesterday - a 17 year old Greg Moore sitting at our fireplace visiting my daughter who had just had major surgery. They were friends. And in our conversation I remember him saying "I am going to be a race car driver". I kinda smirked thinking "sure you are" because many 17 year olds change their career path ten times at that age. Anyway he talked about the racing he had been doing - how him and his dad were working on building cars and how his father supported him all the way. And his parents did support him all the way. I really didnt give that conversation much thought until a few short years later I heard on the news that he was dead. He had broken a finger and was being advised not to drive but he insisted (they dont know if that affected the accident) on driving. The parents were just devastated of course and the first thing they wanted to do was not to blame their son - which again is normal. Turns out the wall he ran into was not a wall of tires which will better enable the driver to bounce off it better and as a result of the accident that was changed to provide more safety to the other drivers. But then these parents who were so gung ho for him to be a race car driver even though they knew the dangers of car racing (it was Formula one racing) - people asked them about that all the time and I used to wonder why parents would want this for their young son but they did and they have that right. But not too long after it they were suing everyone and anyone related to that accident and it is still going on 20 years later. My daughter is 37 which he would have been too but he left us in his early 20's. They came out in the public with outrage after that - a far cry from their attitude when he began racing. So I am not sure how I feel about car racing - all I can think of is what a waste of a wonderful, wonderful young person who died way before his time - but I also know that I was married to an airline pilot and flying is just in their blood. They have to fly no matter what the risks are and I believe that must be the same thing for race car drivers - it is in their blood and if they die they die doing what they love.
how did the driver finish the race with a crashed car missing at least one tire? nice story but change the ending as it makes it sound fabricated as no race car drives with a missing wheel -rules n all.
jodyismyname, what happened? Were you OK? Your baby?
Time to ban cars before we have another senseless death by vehicle.
The problem is, when they act like idiots, they often kill others. But no one forced the others to be at the race track.
And it's true that life is not perfectly safe, and no amount of legislation and rules can change that fact. We can't live in a nanny state that doesn't allow people to do things that others consider unsafe.
My sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones. God bless.
Exactly, or at least no more than five gallon gas tanks.
I hope this doesn't destroy this young man's career. I have a motorsport celeb in my family who can attest that safety is the most important factor. Nobody wants to hurt anyone here.
Pray for the ones we lost.
Time to ban stupid posts by gun nuts.
If you don't like guns, Don't Buy One! You probably don't even know how to use one safely. This has nothing to do with guns, we have the right to have One or Not Have One. We have the right to attend races or stay home! Life Is A RISK!
Or simply ALL "stupid posts" by ALL "nuts"?
It is time to ban ExYahooUser and make them an ExMSNUser, too, for their stupid comments.
However, back to the main topic at hand, I think that this young man is probably scared out of his mind due to the fact that the vehicle malfunctioned. However, unlike most idiotic people that are in here, unless the evidence points otherwise, I believe that the blame should be going to his pit crew and/or the manufacturers of the fault and/or defective part(s) that had malfunctioned and that had caused the accident to happen in the first place. Those people were the first and last line of defense to ensure that scary, crazy, and tragic things like this did not happen to him or to the spectators in the first place. They also knew to test their parts out time and again to make sure that they functioned correctly, the pit crew to do so before races happen and the part manufacturers as a part of their quality assurance programs, respectively. However, Avenger-2464988 is completely right in their post, regardless or not of whether reno 911 was being sarcastic or not. jodyismyname, I am sorry that what happened to you over thirty years ago had happened, but, as the guy that I had mentioned before said, accidents do happen, and in racing, they also happen there. However, most accidents are preventable. Finally, Heavy Artillery (Return Fire), Crazy Steve-1996926, and Avenger-2464988, I want to thank you for your displays of common sense and intelligence. They are sorely needed here.
ExYahooUser,
Give it a break already! You are starting to look more like an Ex Brain User.
Why are the police involved in this?
The police are involved in accidental deaths to the degree required to rule out homicide and establish an official cause of death e.g., insurance companies require an official cause of death.
Because an internal investigation by the raceway would put the onus of responsibility on anyone else but themselves. They would likely blame it on the weather or say it was an Act of God.
As a racer and a lawyer, Jonathan, the county coronor, which is the Sheriff in most Western states, is charged with investigating all deaths that take place in their jurisdiction. From what I have read, the highway patrol is involved and they will investigate it just as any other fatal car accident in the county would be investigated. This happens with every death in counties out in the part of the country...
MoreAmerican: I see you continue to be ignorant...I wish I hadn't responded to you a few lines back...I assumed you could be engaged with productive thoughts...Not sure of that now...
Ignorant? So, you don't believe in independent investigations? You really believe that ANY organization is going to investigate itself and not be biased? You must be the biggest SUCKER in the world. Hey, I've got some swampland in Florida you might be interested in buying! What a chump!
You should get right over to Iraq and find those WMD's that Bush warned us about! LOL!
is this always about holding someone responsible? even if the driver made a mistake, does that mean he should go to jail? sometimes things happens with no malice involved, no intent, just pure bad circumstance. we are too quick to assign blame and punish just so we can feel good about ourselves again, it selfishness.
i guess clinton and the dems repeatedly saying sadaam had WMD's and needed to be taken care of didnt make it into your dem talking points huh? i guess sadaam actually using chem weapons on kurds and in the iran-iraq wars didnt happen right? i guess syria magically got all them chem weapons from the WMD god right? what you will never hear from the media or the dems is that there were tons of stockpiled chem weapons in iraq and yes we found lots of em. what the dems and media said about the WMD's we did find was "they were old stockpiles, so does not count." you dem supporter are so clueless about anything because you let other people lie to you and you believe them.
I concurs wit the second part of yo post swag, but who said anything about sending the driver to jail. if you fly off a rollercoaster and die the police investigate that also.
What a shame that someone has died over this senseless non-sport.
Aldumbnuts :What a shame that you have a computer and keyboard to make a senseless point
I can see from your comment that Danica has bigger balls than you do and she doesn't have any.
You sure about that?
You may see it as a non-sport, but many peoples livelihood is based around this sport. There is enough money generated around the areas that this sport is popular in that oftentimes its a huge revenue boost for those areas. I may not watch sports of any kind but I certainly don't discount them for their usefulness. My great-uncle grew up with Richard Petty's mom, everyone in Kannapolis trashed him as a young man and said he wouldn't amount to much of anything, and look at him know, known as the King of Racing. He is part of what made this sport hugely popular and did things for Kannapolis that the town may not have ever had, so you may view this as a non-sport, but to many it's their way of life, for fun and for business.
hay bundy what is your sport reading comic books in front of tv with your hands in your pants playing pool
I'll agree that auto racing is not a sport, but that point has nothing to do with this situation.
LOL. I love when rednecks lash out blindly when you hold a mirror up to their face!!!!
ExYahoo,
In the span of 3 minutes we have ascertained that you don't like guns or racing. What DO you like?
ExYahooUser: If I have to choose between your opinion and Earnest Hemingway...I'm chosing Hemingway...
I don't really consider it a sport either ... not in the true sense of the word. But it is an activity a lot of people like, so let them go and do it or watch it. To each his own.
It's a shame these folks died at this event though.
racing is more of a sport than golf. have any of you spend hours on end stuck inside a cramped cockpit with intense speed, heat and vibrations? if you think driving across state to see your in-laws in tiring, try racing. it takes a lot of skill to compete in racing, the average joe has no chance in competing.
They must have been vegetarians.
Well, when you give the people what they want...
reno 911 you should know....
Yeah, I have thoughts on the 2 dead people. They were very unfortunate. I feel sorry for their survivors. They aren't the first to die this way. They will not be the last.
One thing about human beings is they have this uncontrollable need to voice their unsolicited opinion and rudeness on EVERYTHING - there even me!
Reno 911 You are an absolute idiot.
Nah, he's just a failed troll wannabe. No style at all.
Come on Spidey (aka Reno9!!). Motorsports have come a long way since the Le Mans disaster of 1955 when 83 fans and one driver were killed. Safety standards being what they are… sometimes your number just comes up. Keep in mind the following quote from the final scene of the 1971 classic about Evel Knievel's life…
"And this time...civilization being what it is and all...we have very little choice about our life. The only thing really left to us is a choice about our death. And mine will be...glorious" –George Hamilton as Evel Knievel
Reno9!! Please show your real identity. You are no Peter Parker!
The people who go to auto races are the same ones who hold up traffic at highway accidents, (and cause other accidents), while gawking and rubbbernecking, hoping to see some blood and body parts. Pumping up sports mania is just part of a capitalist plot to mesmerize the masses...and it is working very well, as evidenced by some of these posts.
B - you have to change your drugs - damn!
I think he needs to stop taking the ones he does take.
When you purchase a ticket, there is a disclaimer as part of the purchase that things can happen. Accidents do occur. Many people truly love the sport, not for the accidents, but the mechanics. The thrill of the skill in driving, and making a car that can out race the others in the same level of competition. I personally hate golfing, and how many people get struck by lightening while they are on a golf course. Maybe we should ban metal golf clubs.
When they show sports highlights in baseball, it's the home runs; in basketball it's the slam dunks. In car racing, it's the crashes.
B Hatfield/KY...................your name alone says a lot ab someone dies at a track there out your reasoning skills. Good lord how long did that family fight over something they couldn't even remember what it was ?
I raced for many years in an upper division on dirt tracks in 5 states. In that time I never witnessed a fans death because of a race accident. I have however been there when 3 drivers were killed. One was such a freak accident it didn't seem possible he was gone. At any rate each of these deaths caused changes that made it less likely to happen again but when your running 140 mph on a slimmy clay track with concrete barriers you know whne you strap in that there is danger. It's a risk we take. Anyone who goes into the pits must also be aware that a racecar CAN get away.
One of the concerns I have here is the age of young person killed. At most tracks i have been too that is too young to be allowed in the pits without a parental consent. many parent will sign the form then let these young kids run free rather than make them stay by thier side. They won't let them run free iin the grandstand area because they might get into trouble but will allow them to run free in a dark pit area where cars might be speeding through.
The other worry i have is the age of drivers VS power level. many parents want their kids to be the next Jeff Gordon or now Danica Patric so they put thier kids in super powerful racecars long before their reasoning and driving skills have developed to that level. Not enough info in this story to see if that was the case or is this was an accident form other causes.
Almost anything traveling 150 mph will kill you.
Mass is a function of acceleration, also where you end up when you get hit by said accelerated objects.
very simple solution. race cars are a weapon of war and nedd to be banned now. Feinstein needs to get moving on this.
I'm so tired of Twilight Zone politics, X-Games accidents, self-inflicted obesity, climate change & evolution deniers, Evangelical Christians grinning at me with blissfully vacuous faces and the constant assault on the gates of modernity by NASCAR & the Dukes of Hazard...whew!
If I didn't have an official hippy's purple heart from surviving the 60s, I'd be seriously considering emigration to anywhere-but-here---but I do...so I won't...and I'm stayin'...just to piss-off Sean Hannity.
just wondering if some of you were born stupid and just got more stupid with age or what
Look in the mirror, and there's your answer.
I'm sure you could tell us which one of the two YOU were.
What dummy allowed a minor to drive in a car race. We need to ban car racing!
Virgle, I hope you are being sarcastic...
Maybe he's been driving since he was 5 or 6? What dummy allowed you to have a computer?
Condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
Spectating anything, where a heavy object is moving over 40mph, and you are at risk. Regardless of safety precautions. Flukes are always possible. Racing is especially dangerous. Flying debris can be lethal. And its common for it end up in the spectator areas. Sometimes enough ends up in the spectator areas to kill someone. Its a roll of the dice everytime. And its part of the appeal of the sport.
"appeal of the sport"??? Risking life and limb to watch idiots drive at high speeds in a circle? "Sport"??? Racing isn't a sport. It's a deadly competitive event attended by zombies who like to sit in the hot sun, drink beer, and hope for a juicy crash.
If the 68 year old man had been armed he could have prevented this from happening
Compromise now Its almost unbeliveable how stupid you are.
If the 68 yearl old man had half a brain left you wouldn't be standing anywhere near some punk teenage hillbilly going 90MPH.
Ban teenage drivers. Ban race cars. Ban race tracks.
If any of these three elements were banned, for the public safety of course, two people would still be alive. How many of you liberal/democrats are going to say that those two people's lives are an acceptable price to pay for the freedom of teens to drive race cars. That is not a necissity to life.
Neither are you dumbass!!! Just what are the necessities of life according to you? and it's conservatives and constitutionalists that believe in the freedom to enjoy and participate in the pursuit of happiness...it's the libs/socialists like yourself that want to ban everything.
What an idiot you are.