Volusia - Sprint Car over the catch fence

[BloomerHarvickFan]

This is bad for dirt racing and really racing in general. The number one rule is to keep the fans safe. Whatever it takes, whether it's higher catch fences, redesigned, or whatever. Sprint cars are just accidents waiting to happen. Seen them flip violently for years. With cars that unstable, it's always just one wreck away..and the way late models are so dug in and jacked up, they are a bigger flip risk than they used to be.
It's like the Bobby Allison wreck at Talledega in 87. Had that car gotten into the stands and killed people, NASCAR would have been over. I think Sprint Car Racing will face that sort of thing unless changes are made.

[CIRF]

Many of us have attended racing at Volusia and it has been painfully evident for years that the backstretch catch fence is woefully inadequate. The first mistake was allowing spectators to be present in that area of the property given the insufficiency's of the catch fence.

It is undeniable that given the nature, weight and inherent design of open wheel racecars they are more susceptible to higher altitudes and more extended tumbles than their fendered counterparts. However, if adequate safety precautions are taken the danger to spectators is minimal regardless of what type of racecars are competing. We've attended literally dozens of open wheel events at high speed tracks such as Eldora, Perris and The Belleville Highbanks and their fencing is such that spectator injury due to a racecar leaving the track is extremely minimal at most

Of all the literally hundreds of dirt track racing events we've attended over the years the one and only spectator fatality was the result of a dirt late model getting into the catch fence. In the aftermath of that incident there was absolutely no talk of ending dirt late model racing. Attending racing events, regardless of their genre', has a degree of risk associated with it. To what degree is determined much more by precautions instituted by the track than the type cars competing.

[GA-DIRT]

Sad to say,seen great racing there,but a long time coming.Make it safe.

[TS FAN]

I just read on Macon Speedway's Facebook page that one of the injured is Illinois modified driver Kelly Kovski.

I heard he is going to be alright. Not sure about the older person.

[Josh Bayko]

Many of us have attended racing at Volusia and it has been painfully evident for years that the backstretch catch fence is woefully inadequate. The first mistake was allowing spectators to be present in that area of the property given the insufficiency's of the catch fence.

It is undeniable that given the nature, weight and inherent design of open wheel racecars they are more susceptible to higher altitudes and more extended tumbles than their fendered counterparts. However, if adequate safety precautions are taken the danger to spectators is minimal regardless of what type of racecars are competing. We've attended literally dozens of open wheel events at high speed tracks such as Eldora, Perris and The Belleville Highbanks and their fencing is such that spectator injury due to a racecar leaving the track is extremely minimal at most

Of all the literally hundreds of dirt track racing events we've attended over the years the one and only spectator fatality was the result of a dirt late model getting into the catch fence. In the aftermath of that incident there was absolutely no talk of ending dirt late model racing. Attending racing events, regardless of their genre', has a degree of risk associated with it. To what degree is determined much more by precautions instituted by the track than the type cars competing.

I tend to agree this is more on the track than the cars or spectators. I think the best solution for this going forward is to keep sprinters out of Volusia until a better catch fence is installed, and a good look should be taken at the fencing at the tracks remaing on the various sprint sanctions' schedules. I doubt that many of the remaining tracks, if any, will have a problem, but still, it's best to identify potential problem areas before something happens.

[00Hdmn]

Anyone have the video of the crash?

[WisWildManFan]

Deerys own the track I believe

[vande077]

World Racing Group (owner of WoO Sprint, WoO Late Model and Super DIRTCar (big blocks) OWN Volusia.

This is just my opinion, but they themselves have set the bar low for other tracks when it comes to safety. The fact that Joey Saldana went over the fence just a couple night prior wasn't a big enough of a wake-up call for the series officials and track owners (IMO they dodged a bigger tragedy that night).

Until the teams, drivers and fans DEMAND more when it comes to safety, they will continue to race at multiple venues throughout the year that are basically the same.

Sadly I don't think anything will change when it comes to the fence. Luckily this wasn't a Late Model flipping up there (that "fence" would have fallen like a house of cards and not slowed it down either), it may have been much worse.

[CIRF]

I tend to agree this is more on the track than the cars or spectators. I think the best solution for this going forward is to keep sprinters out of Volusia until a better catch fence is installed, and a good look should be taken at the fencing at the tracks remaing on the various sprint sanctions' schedules. I doubt that many of the remaining tracks, if any, will have a problem, but still, it's best to identify potential problem areas before something happens.

Sound logic. The truth is this, the next race that I am involved with promotion or sanctioning will be my first so my knowledge and experience is nonexistent. However, common sense should have prevailed in this case given the quality of the fencing and the fact that Joey did much the same thing just days before. I would guess that insurance premiums just went up.

Fairbury is a prime example of how to do it right in regards to catch-fencing as it relates to open wheel racing. But then again, Fairbury doesn't make many wrong moves

[Josh Bayko]

Sound logic. The truth is this, the next race that I am involved with promotion or sanctioning will be my first so my knowledge and experience is nonexistent. However, common sense should have prevailed in this case given the quality of the fencing and the fact that Joey did much the same thing just days before. I would guess that insurance premiums just went up.

Fairbury is a prime example of how to do it right in regards to catch-fencing as it relates to open wheel racing. But then again, Fairbury doesn't make many wrong moves

They've been racing sprints at Volusia for decades without any incidents like Saldana's, so the thinking was likely that it was a freak occurence when Joey flipped out of the park. They learned the lesson the hard way that the fact of the matter was the fencing just isn't good enough just two days later. It's truly a shame people had to get hurt to teach that lesson, but the most inportant lessons are learned the hard way, particularly in motorsports.

[a25rjr]

They've been racing sprints at Volusia for decades without any incidents like Saldana's, so the thinking was likely that it was a freak occurence when Joey flipped out of the park. They learned the lesson the hard way that the fact of the matter was the fencing just isn't good enough just two days later. It's truly a shame people had to get hurt to teach that lesson, but the most inportant lessons are learned the hard way, particularly in motorsports.

Lightning doesn't strike in the same.....whoops! Now I know why I always sit in the stands coming out of turn 1!

[Dante Toledo, OH]

When you go to a race you are taking a chance. Late 90's or early 2000's either CART or IRL race at Michigan. People were hit by parts 50 rows up. Their is no way to make it 100% safe for drivers, crews or fans. Most tickets have a disclaimer printed on them and most pit passes have a waiver to sign. It's easy to second guess the track, but fans put them selves in bad positions. Go to Eldora and see how close hundreds of people stand to the track. I do it every time I go. If something ever happens to me, it is not Eldoras fault.

[zyoung25]

2 years ago when I was down there, Tyler Dipple rolled his mod right by the flag stand, it was a yard sale. Parts went into the stands that night and they hauled a feller out in the squad. As for what it was that hit him, I'm not sure. It was good bit down from where we sat.

[harborfreighthero]

What puzzles me is how this happened again. I've heard it was the same area where Saldana went out a couple days age. Just because they dodged a bullet once and no one was standing there they don't think it could happen again? No people should have been allowed back in that area until they made it safer.

it wasn't in the same place

[Hoosier]

Safety is hard. The last death from a late model going into the bleachers was years ago, and the victim was in the 12th row up. The last spectator to die at the Indpls. 500 was sitting in the top row.