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‘Carnage on the Racetrack’: Horrific Last-Lap Crash Injures Fans, Brings Daytona to a Halt

Feb. 23, 2013 5:59pm Erica Ritz

Horrific Last Lap Daytona Crash Sends Rookie Kyle Larsons Car Flying, Injures Fans

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Discount Tire Dodge, and Kyle Larson, driver of the #32 Clorox Chevrolet, are involved in an incident at the finish of the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo: Getty Images)

(TheBlaze/AP) — At least 30 NASCAR fans were injured Saturday when large chunks of debris, including a tire, sailed into the grandstands when a car flew into the fence on a frightening last-lap accident in the second-tier Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

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. 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.

Neither NASCAR nor Daytona International Speedway officials had any immediate details on injuries in the accident in the race held the day before the season-opening Daytona 500.

“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. “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.”

Injured spectators are treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Photo: AP)

Track officials put out flames after an incident at the finish of the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo: Getty Images)

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.

Kyle Larson, driver of the #32 Clorox Chevrolet, and Regan Smith, driver of the #7 Clean Coal Chevrolet, are involved in an incident at the finish of the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo: Getty Images)

Kyle Larson, driver of the #32 Clorox Chevrolet, gets out of his car following an incident at the finish of the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo: Getty Images)

“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 for further evaluation. NASCAR said Annett was awake and alert.

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.”

Kyle Larson, driver of the #32 Clorox Chevrolet, and Brian Scott, driver of the #2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet, are involved in an incident at the finish of the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo: Getty Images)

Kyle Larson, driver of the #32 Clorox Chevrolet, Justin Allgaier, driver of the #31 Brandt Chevrolet, Brian Scott, driver of the #2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet, and Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Discount Tire Dodge, are involved in an incident at the finish of the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo: Getty Images)

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.”

One spectator was filming the race from the stands when the crash occurred:

It appeared fans were lined right along the fence when Larson’s car sailed up and into it.

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.”

However, they will be ready to race on Sunday.

“We’re very confident that we’ll be ready for tomorrow’s event with the 55th running of the Daytona 500,” Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s senior vice president of racing operations, said.

Here’s the official video of what happened, as seen on television:

This is a breaking news story. Updates will be added.

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Comments (174)

The Big Mick
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 11:13pm
The “50 injured” are just “the first wave”. Ten YEARS from now Daytona and NASCAR will STILL be in court with HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of “trauma” “pain and suffering” cases from half the people any where NEAR the stands.
Some of them will be legitimate. I suspect I would have nightmares of a car flying at me.
And they KNEW it was ONLY a matter of time till this HAPPENED. They DESIGNED the CARS and the TRACK to PRODUCE the CONDITIONS that CAUSED it!
THIS is EVIL!
It’s like having TODAY’s Concussion Data and STILL playing in Leather Helmets.
I sincerely hope the Good Ole Boy Mafia of NASCAR goes DOWN over this, and a New Organization is put in place with Input and Safeguards for Drivers and Owners. A NASCAR version of the Players’ Union that has even more power. Same for Owners and Sponsors. And a FAN Advocate Association with REAL power to effect Rules. OUT of the Backrooms and Into the Light.
A Rule Book that every fan can get a copy of and point out violations of.

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The Big Mick
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 11:01pm
ReReading. So a 13 Car wreck and one in the Hospital wasn’t ENOUGH Carnage for NASCAR and their Bloodthirsty Fans. They had to have their “Green White Checker” version of Russian Roulette and get in ANOTHER with nearly dead FANS!
Brilliant!
Show of hands, who DIDN’T know that pack racing WOULD INEVITABLY, lead to this?
So HOW is NASCAR and THE FANS not DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE?

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- normalmom
  Posted on February 23, 2013 at 11:15pm
  There are always dangerous things in life. Unless you are a pansy who sits in mama’s basement complaining about everything. The safety measures that NASCAR has come out with are incredible but nothing is perfect.
  
  Report this comment
- Outlaw_Josey_Wales
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 7:17am
  No matter what you do, your never 100% safe, thats the way life is.
  
  March 20, 2002
  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The 13-year-old girl hit by a puck at an NHL game died from a rare injury to an artery that was damaged when her head snapped back, a coroner said Wednesday.
  
  Brittanie Cecil died Monday, two days after she was struck in the forehead by the puck at a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames.
  
  Report this comment
- Frederick_Douglass_Republican
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 6:51pm
  Writing with random words in caps makes posts appear hysterical. Just as with emails I receive with capitalized words and phrases scattered throughout I don’t read whatever it is. It looks stupid too. Just sayin’.
  
  Report this comment
KSperson
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 10:55pm
The person who ended up a the tire in their lap were in really bad shape. I think if you were there to see it you would say that it fit the carnage title of this article. Hopefully this person can make it through but it looked pretty bad!

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truth hurtz 3000
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 10:52pm
thats what happens when u speed!!

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RinkyDink34
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 10:36pm
Confucius say cars going 200 mph have malfunction go Spalt!

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 23, 2013 at 10:42pm
  Socrates say Cars and TRACK ARTIFICIALLY TWEAKED to NOT PERMIT CARS to STRING OUT, ENABLE “Splat” because they Enable “Driver Error”.
  
  Report this comment
jeanmchambers
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 10:18pm
LOL! Hee, hah, hah, hah, hah, ha. Oh my God this is soooo funny!!! Hee, hee haw, haw.

What did these freaking red neck roundsy round fans expect?? You sit right next to the track where cars are doing over 200 mph and act all stupid like when there is a wreck and parts are flying in your faces. You ignorant mud trackers!!! lol You got what you knew you might get!!!

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- pissantno.10
  Posted on February 23, 2013 at 10:43pm
  hush it was bush and cheny working as mechanics. sawing on stuff ya know. with your super interlick, dont let this get around jay carney.
  
  Report this comment
1RealAmerican
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 9:54pm
How many more things like this have to happen before NASCAR gets rid of those damn restrictor plates that they make the teams run at Daytona and Talladega? They make the cars so they have to run in a pack the whole race and if someone tries to make a move like this on the last lap and gets blocked by another driver which is what they are forced to do to keep their position. This is the reason I quit watching NASCAR – 3 ring circus where no matter what you can’t make a run on your own – always have to have teamates help or rely on the “draft”. This isn’t racing folks……I just hope to hell that no one in the stands is permenently harmed by this………..

Gonna watch my copy of the 1979 Daytona 500 tomorrow – when racing was real……….

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 23, 2013 at 10:50pm
  I’ve been Saying this 3rdDiv and been told I’m sick and don’t know NASCAR fans.
  I say also it is THE TRACK. BREAK UP the “Superspeedways” MAKE them shorter and different so Restrictor plates are Not Necessary! Build SMALLER,but WIDER differently shaped tracks, with more pit road space. Part of the problem here is NASCAR is a LAW unto itself with NO oversight.
  We DON’T KNOW who is in bed with whom. It’s RUN like an Bootleg Empire.
  
  My dad was in the 7th Inft. REGIMENT in WW2. The 3rd Division inherited their “Cotton Bailer” patch.
  
  Report this comment
- 1RealAmerican
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 1:42am
  Amen brother – been told I don’t know what I’m talking about even though I’ve been watching NASCAR since it was on ABC’s Wide World of Sports (really showing my age). Don’t even have to do anything as drastic as re-configuring the tracks – it could be done with gearing, engine size, spoilers etc – all of which wouild break up the “pack racing” that they all think is so exciting (boring as hell in my opinion) and let the best driver with the best car and talent win. People can cite the Bobby Allison crash all they want – it wasn’t a regular occurance until the restrictor platses showed up – since then this crap happens every year at both the races at these tracks – only involving the cars until now. If anyone wants more proof I’m gonna say it – restrictor plate racing is what killed Dale Earnhardt plain and simple – knew he couldn’t win so he had to block for Dale Jr and Michael Waltrip so they would have a chance to win. Gonna say it again – this ain’t racing – people need to learn their NASCAR history…………
  
  I salute your Dad – one of the greatest generation – a true American hero………
  
  Report this comment
AnAmerican111
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 9:53pm
Why haven’t we heard OBAMA and the rest of his pathetic administration of criminals announce the need to ban NASCAR racing……………………….?……………………………….
Why is that?……..

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goodtimes500
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 9:44pm
why did not this protective wall stop all the parts of the cars hitting the fans?a very big black eye on nascar.

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- MisterSarcastic
  Posted on February 23, 2013 at 9:49pm
  What do you think they should do? Build a solid concrete wall 50 feet tall?
  
  Report this comment
- pissantno.10
  Posted on February 23, 2013 at 10:46pm
  sara palin was seen with wire cutters before the race. just saying
  
  Report this comment
- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 23, 2013 at 10:54pm
  MISSAR.
  You don’t think they AREN’T going to be PAYING OUT to the injured fans enough money TO BUILD 50 foot solid walls?
  False dilemma, we HAVE the Technology, CHANGE the layout of the Speedways, MOVE the fans BACK. USE modern high tech materials. CHANGE the banking and length to reduce speeds, end drafting.
  THIS AIN’T your Granddad’s NASCAR, it’s the DIGITAL POST SPACE SHUTTLE AGE.
  GET with the 21st Century, bubbas.
  
  Report this comment
honor1
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 8:53pm
I would like to point out to some of you haters critics, the blaze is free no-one is paying for it but Glenn. So when you get the money to build your own news corp. Then and only then do you have a say in how or what a the headline reads.

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honor1
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 8:48pm
Damn that was a nice fence too. I hope everyone is ok.

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Capt_Gregg
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 8:40pm
Add your comments

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RamonPreston
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 8:26pm
Cars do strange things when they get up to 200 mph. Take those restrictor plates off so they can really go. Then we will see some spectacular crashes. Those cars fly like kites at those speeds.

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SamIamTwo
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 8:19pm
Speed kills…those cages have come under scrutiny before.

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PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 8:11pm
Sad that people were injured.

I use to watch Formula One Racing during the time of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna of McLaren team
then Ayrton Senna lost his life to a wall at Imola and Alian Prost quit the next year.

OK BLAZE…2 or 3 videos are talking / playing at the same time!!! WHAT’S UP WITH THAT!

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- MisterSarcastic
  Posted on February 23, 2013 at 9:51pm
  Install Ghostery. Should stop it.
  
  Report this comment
LeadNotFollow
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 8:09pm
In my opinion, looks like Satan helped Tony Stewart win the race.
May God bless those who were injured. Pray for their full recovery.

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- RamonPreston
  Posted on February 23, 2013 at 8:28pm
  Satan doesn’t get involved with peons like Stewart. He’s living at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
  
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blacktape242
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 8:06pm
im sorry but the moron who filmed his and the idiot waving his hands….. wow, so much for helping people these days.

So will there be a govt. session to ban this sport as its now to dangerous for people? Soon we will only be able to play patty cake…..

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moosebeeusa
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 8:03pm
God speed to the injured.

Lets Go Racin Boys ……Girl.

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Mahdi Al-Dajjal
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 8:00pm
Obviously cars with 8 cyclinders are an utter danger to the lives of ordinary citizens. Therefor, I’m calling on Congress to immediately pass “common sense” legislation which bans all 6 & 8 cylinder motors and further which restricts gas tanks to carrying ONLY 5 gallons of fuel or less. Can we all agree that we owe this to our children?

Furthermore, as part of a comprehensive legislative package, Congress should mandate that ALL garages be inspected twice a year by Federal Agents to check for compliance with these new common sense mandates. Can I get an “amen”?

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Thundergod
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 7:55pm
As PC as NASCAR has become recently,Im sure theyll ruin the Daytona 500 with some lame rules to prevent this from happening Sunday. Thank God no one was killed,considering spectators sit along a track where cars are doing 200 mph. I think that says something for the attention NASCAR does pay to safety. I just hope they dont go overboard trying to appease their critics as they often do. I expect them to rule no one can pass Danica Patrick so she will finally win a race,and NASCAR can give us another historical feel good moment with our first woman Daytona 500 winner. They sure do need to lure back that female fan base that has recently been dwindling.

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BannedByHuffpo
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 7:52pm
Speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane change, failure to signal ….

This sort of stuff happens every day on US highways.

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 23, 2013 at 11:05pm
  yeah, but we aren’t yet made to install restrictor plates.
  
  Report this comment
barber2
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 7:51pm
Guns. Nascar. Wrestling. Football. 16 oz. sugar drinks. All soon to be banned . Illegals voting. Open borders. HealthCare for ALL that the sucker taxpayer can not hope to fund – soon to be required. Like Alice, America have gone down the Rabbit Hole . We are now in Obama World where ” transparency” means hidden school records and where ” yes, we can” means destroying a previously successful capitalist society. Again they are trying the Castro / Chavez / Soviet model which has never worked anywhere and will not work here. But our Chicago 60s radicals and their International Lefties just refuse to give up that ” hope ” that they can change ( punish ) America for all of that is wrong with the world. The Ultimate Blame Game. For Vietnam . For Clinton’s impeachment. For slavery. For rich people. For 9/11. For Iraq . For Bush. For the U.S. military. For the police. For laws. For guns. For Constitutional freedoms. It is all about revenge and anger. The radicals now call that ” social justice.” Another one of those Lefty word “changes :” used to be called revenge . And, no matter what happens, the radicals Democrats will BLAME someone else for all of the economic and social carnage .

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Miami
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 7:50pm
I can hear the left warming up

Lets ban race cars or at least NASCAR, its not like any Liberals care for it…?

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YOURSENSEI
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 7:48pm
This is what you must know:

Shoulda turend left.

It is so.

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NOTYERHUCKLEBERRY
Posted on February 23, 2013 at 7:46pm
Hey! Why don’t we ban NASCAR along with “assault rifles”, large capacity magazines and all the other B.S. this administration wants. After all, someone might get hurt!

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- YOURSENSEI
  Posted on February 24, 2013 at 10:01am
  This is what you must know:
  
  If someone getting hurt is the standard, they should ban Dick Cheney from hunting.
  
  It is so.
  
  Report this comment

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