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60-Year-Old Man Dies In Richard Petty Driving Experience Crash
local6 ^ | February 4, 2008

Posted on 02/04/2008 10:43:18 AM PST by stainlessbanner

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A 60-year-old tourist died after he crashed while driving a Richard Petty Driving Experience NASCAR vehicle at the Daytona International Speedway.

Track officials said Robert Boswell was driving around the speedway Sunday night when he somehow lost control of the race car and crashed into a wall.

Boswell was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center, where he was declared dead at about 7 p.m., officials said.

Cars can reach speeds of 120 mph in the simulated stock car racing attraction at the Daytona Beach International Speedway.

An autopsy is being conducted to determine if any health condition contributed to the crash.

Boswell was an avid race fan, officials said.

The Richard Petty driving experience was closed to the public Monday because of the crash.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: daytona; experience; nascar; petty
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1 posted on 02/04/2008 10:43:23 AM PST by stainlessbanner
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To: stainlessbanner

Well, at least he died happy.


2 posted on 02/04/2008 10:46:46 AM PST by Obadiah
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To: Obadiah

Yeah and he probably had to sign a release.


3 posted on 02/04/2008 10:47:34 AM PST by CindyDawg (Go the distance Huckabee.)
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To: stainlessbanner

It’s a shame, but this guy wanted to do something with an element of danger. No doubt his family will sue. Chances are the price of the driving experience will be raised, if it isn’t closed altogether.

Since when did freedom come to mean freedom from harm?


4 posted on 02/04/2008 10:49:18 AM PST by brownsfan (America has "jumped the shark")
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To: stainlessbanner
Not to be cold, condolences to the man's family.

But I've signed a waiver at Texas Motor Speedway just to ride along, not drive.

It said, my fault, their fault, nobody's fault, I would pay for any damages !

5 posted on 02/04/2008 10:49:57 AM PST by TexasCajun
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To: stainlessbanner

If I have to go, this is one of the ways I’d want to go. Prayers for the man and his family.


6 posted on 02/04/2008 10:51:33 AM PST by MarineBrat (My wife and I took an AIDS vaccination that the Church offers.)
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Next up, lawsuit, followed by the end of this type of entertainment.


7 posted on 02/04/2008 10:52:40 AM PST by Arkansas Toothpick
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To: TexasCajun

Same here.

I used to race limited late models on the local dirt tracks. Had to sign a waiver at every track.

That’s why we used to say it’s $500 worth of car and $10,000 worth of safety equipment.


8 posted on 02/04/2008 10:53:54 AM PST by 2111USMC
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To: stainlessbanner
Updated at 1:10 p.m.

By MARK DeCOTIS
FLORIDA TODAY

An Apopka man celebrating his 60th birthday by driving a stock car in the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Daytona International Speedway was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon after his car hit the inside wall on the track’s backstretch.
The man has been identified as Robert Boswell. The speedway said the accident happened about 5 p.m. and Boswell was taken to Halifax Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
The death was the first in the Driving Experience’s presence at the speedway that began in 1998, speedway media relations director David Talley said.
There are no SAFER barriers on the backstretch wall at the speedway. The steel and foam barriers, designed to lessen the impact of crashes, are installed in the turns and the frontstretch trioval at the 2.5-mile speedway.
Boswell was driving a Chevy Monte Carlo-bodied stock car behind an instructor in another car on the fourth lap of an eight-lap driving program called Daytona High-Banks 8, said Chris McKee, the RPDE director of media relations. He estimated Boswell was traveling at an estimated 70 mph when the instructor noticed Boswell’s car driving in a “herky-jerky” motion,
“The first three laps everything seemed to be fairly normal,” said McKee, adding Boswell’s third lap was timed at a top speed of 125 mph.
“On lap four, he got down to turn one and started driving sort of some jerky motions at the wheel. The instructor in front of him noticed he was having a problem, looked and it appears as though the participant had kind of slumped over the wheel and lost control of the car and slowed down off turn two” before hitting the inside wall.
McKee said Boswell was wearing a helmet, head and neck restraint and the standard five-point safety harness. The speedway impounded the car, Daytona Beach Police said. McKee said the Driving Experience will break the car apart to investigate for any possible malfunctions.
McKee said while it appears Boswell suffered a heart attack it was speculation at this point. There have been two other deaths in the 16-year history of the program founded by seven-time NASCAR champion and seven-time Daytona 500 winner Richard Petty and both were linked to heart attacks, McKee said.
The program was suspended for the day immediately following Boswell’s crash. It is scheduled to return to Daytona on Feb. 11 and 12. The program, which features both driving and ride-along programs, has a presence at 25 tracks nationwide including Homestead-Miami and the speedway at Walt Disney World.
McKee said participants sign a liability waiver before driving as well filling out a medical form that asks questions including if they have high blood pressure, are pregnant.
Daytona Beach Police spokesman Jimmie Flynt would not comment on the circumstances of the accident saying they were awaiting results of an autopsy scheduled for Monday afternoon.

9 posted on 02/04/2008 10:53:56 AM PST by A. Morgan (VOTE McCain HE'LL CLOSE GITMO N' BRING THOSE TERRORIST TO A TOWN NEAR YOU!)
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To: stainlessbanner

Scary, since my old man (who is 60) wants to go out, if given the choice, on a race track — preferably at the end of a 1/4-mile run.


10 posted on 02/04/2008 10:57:25 AM PST by Disturbin (Liberals: buying votes with your money)
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To: Obadiah
Well, at least he died happy

or soiling his pants.

11 posted on 02/04/2008 10:59:33 AM PST by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: Dixie Yooper

Or as Bill Cosby put it, “First you say it, then you do it.”


12 posted on 02/04/2008 11:01:23 AM PST by dfwgator (11+7+15=3 Heismans)
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: stainlessbanner
it appears as though the participant had kind of slumped over the wheel and lost control of the car

Sounds as if he was dead or unconscious before the crash.

14 posted on 02/04/2008 11:07:06 AM PST by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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To: jiggyboy
He meant to sign up for “The Dale Ernhardt Driving Experience”.

He signed up for the Richard Petty Driving Experience and got the Dale Ernhardt Driving experience intead.

15 posted on 02/04/2008 11:07:09 AM PST by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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To: A. Morgan
Judging from that report it definately sounds like a heart attack. Guess we will have to wait for the official coroner's determination, but unless thier was some catastrophic failure of the safety equipment there is really no reason for anyone to die in a 70 mph crash in a NASCAR vehicle.

The erratic movements, and report the driver looked like he was slumped over the wheel tends to lead toward heart attack. Another possibility is that his body couldn't handle the G-forces of the speed and 38 degree banking and he passed out.

16 posted on 02/04/2008 11:07:33 AM PST by commish (Freedom tastes sweetest to those who have fought to protect it.)
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To: jiggyboy
That's cold, man, in a morbidly humorous way.

Maybe he meant to take the, "KYLE Petty Driving CAREER Experience"? Non?

17 posted on 02/04/2008 11:07:51 AM PST by rvoitier (Remember, she's just Mrs. Bill Clinton)
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To: tubebender

Ping


18 posted on 02/04/2008 11:09:44 AM PST by LasVegasMac (Islam: Bringing the world death and destruction for 1400 years!)
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To: stainlessbanner
A lot of my co-workers went to the Richard Petty place in Charlotte. They loved it. But I have to question the 120 MPH they go.

Whats the big deal there? If I am going to be pretty big bucks to drive a NASCAR car, I want the thing to be real. Not a wimped down version. I'll pass until they replace the kiddy cars with the real deal.

Oh, and our Gov., Mike Easley, has crashed 2 cars at Lowes Motor Speedway and a 3rd on city streets!

19 posted on 02/04/2008 11:11:20 AM PST by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: Dixie Yooper; jiggyboy
He meant to sign up for “The Dale Ernhardt Driving Experience”.

He signed up for the Richard Petty Driving Experience and got the Dale Ernhardt Driving experience intead.

Sick sense of humor ... and uncalled for.

20 posted on 02/04/2008 11:15:18 AM PST by al_c (Avoid the consequences of erudite vernacular utilized irrespective of necessity)
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