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DirtTrackTherapy16J (Offline)
  #1 6/14/23 12:45 AM
I will start by saying I am a HUGE JG, Justin Grant fan. However, I know not everyone is. I'm looking for an answer or opinion here, not whether you like JG or not. So if you could, please put that aside whether you like him or not.

Tonight at Grandview, JG rolls out for qualifying and action stops. As the camera zooms in Chet makes the comment about how his right rear is flat and rim bent/busted. For me the camera angle isn't the best on top of that the camera was on Bacon qualifying...as USAC pushes JG through the infield and back to the pits to change tire and rim, it appears something happens with the push truck driver as he makes hand gestures of some sort.

So...if the push truck driver is at fault, lined up on JG wrong and/or somehow pushed JG into the wall trashing his tire and rim, how does this work? Tire and rim is what, $500-$1000? Does the track pay for JG's tire and rim since they hired the push truck driver or USAC pays it or JG and TOPP just eats it or what?
kb78 (Offline)
  #2 6/14/23 7:08 AM
This is certainly not the first time something like this has happened and although I do not know for a fact I believe that TOPP just has to eat this. It's kind of like your receiver running into the referee on the football field, it sucks but he is considered part of the field. Besides, not all tracks hire the pushtruck drivers, sometimes they are volunteers, and sometimes they just get free admission so I am not sure that you could hold them responsible.

In this particular case, it looked like JGs car went sideways and the right rear caught the guardrail but the pushtruck did not run over the wheel, not that that makes it better.
Likes: tirespinner
The Old Coyote (Offline)
  #3 6/14/23 8:29 AM
There is some good video of this on Twitter. It looked to me like the push truck wasn't exactly lined up with Grant and the car slid right when the push truck moved forward. The right rear caught the end of the wall.

Real Race Cars Don't Have Fenders!
Ed
Likes: tirespinner
Stevensville Mike (Offline)
  #4 6/14/23 8:41 AM
We need Tom Paterson to join this conversation. That very thing, and worse, happened to him at Spartan Speedway many years back. The truck somehow went up and over his rear wheel and when landing broke the whole suspension off of the frame. If memory serves me correctly, it broke a shock mount clean off the frame.

Tom?

Chiming in live from the West Coast of Michigan.... Mike
Likes: tirespinner
Charles Nungester (Offline)
  #5 6/14/23 8:54 AM
What happens to the push truck when a car slams into the rear of it at 90+ mph (Sammy, Eldora) He just have to eat it or what?

Nobody out there trying to destroy equiptment on purpose, But I've seen some messed up cars and trucks. Gotta give props to both teams and push truck drivers, Not sure putting my 50k truck out there would be worth it.

Charles Nungester
Likes: cmakin
Rpracing1 (Offline)
  #6 6/14/23 12:50 PM
No expert and has nothing to do with OP question. but..............

I did see where a certain young lady got a New Car from Penske/IMS when a flying tire landed on her car recently.

8 Likes: Blitzman, Dirtfan, flagboy55, luckybuc97, mc/rider, racenut69, tirespinner, wildman92
kendirt (Offline)
  #7 6/14/23 1:39 PM
I once had a tow truck driver do more damage to my car carrying it back to the pits than I did flipping it down the backstretch.

You're on your own in that situation. Most push/tow trucks are volunteers and tracks struggle to get enough as is. Make them responsible for incidental damage and they won't have any.

This is also why I want my guy on my four-wheeler behind my car until the last possible moment when it has to be turned over to a track push truck.
2 Likes: tirespinner, TQ29m
flagboy55 (Offline)
  #8 6/14/23 6:43 PM
Thanks for asking me 16j.
I believe the push trucks have no liability.
opnwhlmnd (Offline)
  #9 6/14/23 8:36 PM
Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
What happens to the push truck when a car slams into the rear of it at 90+ mph (Sammy, Eldora)
Sammy hit push truck at Lernerville

Find a purpose in life ..... Be a bad example
4 Likes: Charles Nungester, mlamb, Rpracing1, tirespinner
motorhead748 (Offline)
  #10 6/15/23 5:42 AM
I had a push truck run over my right rear tire once. Tore up the wing sideboard and some other stuff. The program ended up raining out yet the promoter came to me & asked how much damage. He came back a bit later with the cash.
4 Likes: Charles Nungester, cornerthree, luckybuc97, tirespinner
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