World of Outlaw wreck?
 

Who where drivers involved in wreck? Heard there was cage damage? Thanks for the info.

Re: World of Outlaw wreck?
 

Two nights ago. David Gravel and Tim Shaffer. Gravel hit a crater/dip in the middle groove in Turn 1 on Lap 2 of the Feature and his car, already cocked at about 45 degrees, jumped up off of all four wheels and that started it all. Shaffer was following and had nowhere to go but into him. The dip was re-worked after quals but re-appeared after the modifieds ran their heats and the WoO ran their dashes.

I was talking to Shaffer the next night pre-race and he and Gravel both rolled out new cars. Gravel's was destroyed. I told Tim I was just glad to see both of them get out of the cars on their own steam

Video compliments of another fan forum site:

A flipping David Gravel got hit by Tim Shaffer at Volusia. I will not comment or speculate on what happened with the cage. Barry Jackson, Gravel's crew chief released a very sincere statement about why he isn't releasing pictures of the cage or anything. He will let other racers and chassis manufacturers look at it to try to advance safety in the sport. The important thing is that both drivers walked away.

Re: World of Outlaw wreck?
 

Hi,

i was an eye witness to this wreck. my first takeaway is sprint car races need corner workers similar to Knoxville, guys that can run to the scene and immediately help the driver get out. David had to try and free himself too long. As for the cage, it did it's job. everything can be better. This is a violent sport.

Rich M

Re: World of Outlaw wreck?
 

I am sorry,but if he is so concern with the cars safety, why would you roll an identical car out to run? If you read his statement, to me he saying safety is not the owners, drivers or crew chiefs responsibility. It is everyone else's. I am sure that all the top Outlaw teams STILL get their cars built to their specifications. If you want the cage built different order it that way. I worked for several Outlaw, teams over the years and everyone had things built a little different. If some called and wanted a car like Kinser it might be one like a older model,but never what they was using at the time.
This what happens when you get bolt on crew chiefs.

Re: World of Outlaw wreck?
 

Yeah, you can make stronger tubing. but it needs a redesign to offer more support, A smaller hoop, some diagonal bracing, Taller rear of the cage like the Hawk Chassis..

IMO it's the same thing as that midget flip last year landing on the K-Rail. This one the front nerf, torsion tube hit his cage.

I personally think if you can get a NHRA style Halo in a Top fuel dragster or rail dragster, you can get one in a sprint car.

I wouldn't make it mandatory for a couple years, but yeah, I too want to see drivers back the next night, or next weekend.

What do you mean by, " Bolt on Crew Chief"?!
Barry Jackson built JEI then GF1 Chassis. He is hands on as they come!

It looks like the top right hoop of the cage is bent down. Which I would assume is from getting hit by the other car. I’ve seen far worse cage damage from lighter hits.

Thank you for saying what was on my mind first. Barry Jackson is certainly not a bolt on crew chief. Pretty sure he'll be building his next cars a little different, but whether there was cage damage or not, the cjb car did its job. David walked away. Let's be thankful for that

Not only that if you read his statement he wanted other competitors manufacturers even organizations to look at it to see if there could be something done to make it better he just didn't want it to become a public spectacle so people would Trash it on message boards . I applaud him for the way he handled it

Now back to a few post awhile back, you think anybody gave Gravel a concussion test or anything like that before they let him back into a replacement car, uhhh probably not,

Re: World of Outlaw wreck?
 

A concussion test, lol. I miss the old days when it was known racers had no brains to hurt.
As far as there being some cage damage, duh looked pretty violent. No cage will survive every perceivable hit without damage. Seems like the cage did its job.

That's the point I'm making , people are worried car didn't do its job,so now they will want to add something else for safety, not checking on the driver to see if he is ok to drive

There's a video on YouTube.

Re: World of Outlaw wreck?
 

like this

Maybe it’s time to test some dirt roadsters!

Re: World of Outlaw wreck?
 

Sure he could build it but the weight alone wouldn't sell the chassis until it was a proven winner & or mandatory.

By the way try & find Charlie Fishers car he ran at Eldora. If I'm thinking right he is a welding engineer & builds drag racing frames.

Re: World of Outlaw wreck?
 

all the fisher boys were smart as he11...

Ok to end all speculation regarding David Gravel and his condition following the wreck. Yes he was checked and cleared by trained Medical staff from Volusia County AirEvac right after the accident. I was right there when he got out of the car and seen by them. Also the following day he was checked again. They are taking no risks when it comes to driver safety.

Cage safety: All these cars go thru an extensive tech on the cage. This was yet another fluke accident but the car owner is being very proactive on where to go from here. Nobody was blaming the cage for anything just simply what can we do.

David was very lucky to walk away and Tim even came right up to him to see if he was ok and both drivers were not mad about the accident.

Outside of that the speeds are extremely fast there and every year I go down to work it in the back of my mind I know how quickly things can go wrong.

Thank you!

Re: World of Outlaw wreck?
 

That bent up cage absorbed energy. Make it too stiff and that energy gets absorbed by the driver.

Re: World of Outlaw wreck?
 

The bend might have absorbed some of the impact, just don't think that anyone builds a cage with the intent of having a crush or bendability built in. No one ever wants a cage to deform in anyway, no matter the impact.