Dale Earnhardt Jr. burned after crash

Yahoo ^ | 7/18/04 | AP - Sonoma

[SheLion]

Great photo. Out of all the ones I have, I don't recognize this one. Thanks!!

[ridesthemiles]

Driving fast isn't usually the problem----It is the sudden stops that cause the problem.
I really hope he didn't breathe in the wrong stuff and cause his lungs and windpipe a long term problem. Or worse.

[SheLion]

I have a screen capture of this.

Isn't that sickening? Oh boy!

[SheLion]

Wasn't he all the way out of the car and on the ground before the safety workers arrived? You're right that the camera pulled way back. But I watched it several times, and that's what I'm virtually certain I saw.

Well, the camera pulled back, and it looked like Jr was on all 4's on the ground.  And the safety workers got there and pulled him away from the car.  But it all happened so fast.  It was really a fire ball.  Jr is lucky!

[WSGilcrest]

Also last night, Just down the street from Sears Point Infineon...
(Don't know why they put Infineon in the title of the article)

Santa Rosa Man Killed During Infineon Race Saturday

POSTED: 1:12 pm PDT July 18, 2004

UPDATED: 1:17 pm PDT July 18, 2004

SONOMA, Calif. -- A Santa Rosa resident was killed during a racing event at Petaluma Speedway Saturday night, according to the Petaluma Police Department. Randy Clifton, 41, known as Rollover Randy for a stunt he performs in a pick-up truck at the raceway, was struck by a race car while working as a Second Turn Race Official during the 360 Sprint Car Racing event, reported police.

He was struck by a car driven by Adam McCarthy of San Jose while a yellow caution flag was in effect, according to police. Witnesses report that Clifton was on the racetrack when he was struck.

Clifton was transported to Petaluma Valley Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation and anyone with videotape of the race is asked to call Traffic Officer Steve Johnson at (707) 778-4597.

[Wolfstar]

I'm sure you're all watching Speed. When Boris said Junior didn't like the Jello, you know all is as OK as it can be after such a scary incident.

[WestCoastGal]

LOL

They have yucky jello in the hospital

Tubebender remember that!!

I did find this at the American Le Mans site:

Earnhardt, Jr. Being Held Overnight for Observation
7/18/2004 - Dale Earnhardt, Jr., will be held overnight for observation after suffering minor second degree burns on the inner sides of both legs and on his chin in a racing accident Sunday morning at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

[SheLion]

I'm sure you're all watching Speed. When Boris said Junior didn't like the Jello, you know all is as OK as it can be after such a scary incident.

The car owner said Jr had some cuss words as well. LOL! That's encouraging!

[tubebender]

That type of accident used to be common up here on the old dirt tracks. I witnessed 2 deaths like this in the 50's. You never forget the sight.

Did they run the GT3 cars today at Sears Point and do you have a link for the results? Eureka High School competes and they finished in the top 5 for the past few years in this series...

[WestCoastGal]

[WestCoastGal]

[SheLion]

Not a very good first experience with sports car racing, though!

For who, libertarian? Jr has driven in this race before.

[SheLion]

Some pictures. Gives me the shivers.........

[SheLion]

That one where his head is engulfed just makes me sick..........

[WestCoastGal]

Yes pic #3 in post #130 is of his head/helmet still in the car.

I should have pointed that out to those who did not see the video clips.

[SheLion]

I should have pointed that out to those who did not see the video clips.

That's the closeup they showed on the channel the race came on. Then the camera pulled back. It was hair-raising.

[proudofthesouth]

I saw that MythBusters episode and it was a terrific one. As they all are.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

Looks like his safety equipment saved his butt. How do you get over nightmares of an event like that?

[Hurricane Andrew]

Wearing only the top half of his fireproof suit. Methinks he should learn to keep his pants on. Especially when his father died from not wearing his safety harness properly. Don't these guys ever learn?

[WestCoastGal]

The cars he drives in the Nascar Winston (Nextsmell) Cup races have on board fire extinguishers which would hopefully work in the event of this type of fire. Although every now and then you see one where they don't, but it's better than nothing which is what he had today.

Looks like Corvette definitely needs that safety item.