I remember one summer I almost went to Knoxville, I had read about the nationals and I almost left on the spur of the moment. I figured I could drive down and when I got to knoxville I could ask where the track was. I later found out it was in Iowa not tenn. LOL,
I was in the backstrech grandstands that night, and we all thought for sure that Bowyer was dead for sure. It's not often that you see the white sheet at Knoxville. The last I'd heard was he was in a coma, and that was a few years ago. I'm glad to hear now, that he ended up recovering pretty good. Even better to hear that he's still racing!
@LLLosingit Hey, no problem, I've been going to Knoxville for about 27 years (since I was about 6) and I still make it about every Saturday. Looking forward to the 360 Nationals this week and the 410 Nationals next week! I sure hope the weather cooperates, it's been a brutal summer so far with thunderstorms in Southern Iowa. Take care!
I just came across this video. I was standing at the back stretch fence when this happened right in front of us . The sound of the metal twisting and breaking is something that I can still hear in my mind. Then Boyer's wife or g f came running right past us screaming her lungs out. Something I will never forget.
In the long shot you can see how bad the cage looked. This happened right in front of us on the back stretch, it was really tough to be there right then. There's never a wreck vid from Knoxville that you're not amazed at the best safety crew in our sport. The car is stopped for 7 seconds before they're there.
Life is weird… these guys survived. However, a few years ago, the leader of this race Cameron Dodson was killed when he was hit by a car walking across a street. Crossing the street is possibly more dangerous than racing a Sprint Car.
If you watch the video closely Curtls came thru turn 4 and slid up near the fence then the car hooked and he came down the track and hit the side of the 98 and started flipping
@slot962 he drives at my local track sometimes to mercer raceway park and sharon speedway im in between both my dad use to work for him and build his wings. i dont know your age or racing history but my uncle is ralph quarterson and my cousin nis tom there botch sprint car champions and my uncle has many track records and was rivals with lou blaney for years.
Unbelievable that Curtis didn't get killed in this. I've seen bad accidents and fatalities in sprint cars and midgets and they all seemed minor when you watched it until the outcome.
@Slamm1n1 Yes, Turn two...I guess If I'm going to correct someone I should have got the corner right. LOL I've only been going to the track for over thirty years I should have at least got that right.
I still think the worst I've seen is danny smith's at attica while qualifying. Why is this one so much worse to everyone than any other sprint car flip(not to be rude or disrespectful to anyone)
Probably because Danny suffered a back injury, healed and returned to racing. Curtis almost DIED in this and never raced again. His roll cage was obliterated in the impact and he spent a good period of time unconscious in the hospital!
I was there in section ww on the backstretch. Happen right in front of us. I was a kid then but this wreck and the sound of the cars colliding will never leave my memory. They pulled ambulances around boyers car and draped towels all around to conceal them taking him out of the car. The whole place was silent and scared.
I know what you mean. Visited my dad in '15 and we went to William's Grove and stood on the backstretch by the wreckers. Car got loose coming off of 2 and slammed into the infield entry way about 40 foot away from us. Momentum had to go somewhere so it went straight up and front flipped, coming back down on the rail. Driver was OK, but I'll never forget how the engine just cut and backfired as everything just crushed.
