Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup
A horrific last-lap accident that left drivers fearing for Austin Dillon’s safety muted Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s victory in the rain-delayed race at Daytona International Speedway.
Earnhardt crossed the finish line at 2:41 a.m. local time yesterday, filled with dread after Dillon’s car sailed upside down into the fence then shot back onto the track. The car was on its roof and mangled when it was hit hard by Brad Keselowski.
The car tore down a section of fencing, debris scattered into the grandstands, and crew members from several teams raced to check on Dillon.
A stunned Earnhardt seemed speechless as he crossed the finish line.
“Oh my God. That looked awful,” Earnhardt yelled into his radio.
Crew chief Greg Ives immediately radioed his team not to pull Dillon from the car.
“Whoever is in that window, if he’s OK, do not touch him. Tell him to stay in there,” Ives said.
Earnhardt continued to inquire about Dillon, who earned his first career win at Daytona in Friday’s Xfinity Series race and is close with Earnhardt’s family. The late Dale Earnhardt won 34 races at Daytona and Dillon was present for many of them as he grew up watching him drive for his grandfather, Richard Childress.
Earnhardt was killed in a 2001 crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500.
Earnhardt Jr. said after the race he had no idea who was in the car — it was torn nearly in half, its engine ripped from under the hood — but acknowledged being genuinely scared after the wreck.
“You are just on the verge of tears,” Earnhardt said. “I saw everything in the mirror pretty clearly … I just was very scared for whoever that car was. I didn’t care about anything except figuring out who was OK.
“The racing doesn’t matter anymore.”
The outcome was never in doubt as Earnhardt dominated the entire race. But as the pack of cars chased him on a two-lap overtime sprint to the finish, contact in the train sent Dillon’s car sailing upside down into the fence.
Daytona President Joie Chitwood said four fans were treated by medical staff in the grandstands and one was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Dillon was evaluated and released in Daytona’s infield care center and said he had a bruised arm and tailbone.
“I am just going to be really sore; it got my tailbone pretty good and my arm,” he said.
The accident was similar to a 2013 crash in the Xfinity Series when Kyle Larson’s car sailed into the fence, sending debris into the stands that injured 28 fans. Larson’s car was destroyed as it ricocheted back onto the track. Jenna Fryer, Daytona Beach, Fl. ,AP
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