Modifieds at Terre Haute
 

I thought the modifieds put on a good show yesterday. Richie Lex really put on a drive in his heat and I was looking forward to watching him in the feature. Apparently he was eliminated in an opening lap crash while I was out getting a heavier coat from my car. Willy Crupp (sp)? from Mr. Carmel, IL undoubtedly set an altitude record for a modified, while heading for certain victory in his heat.

Re: Modifieds at Terre Haute
 

I thought so too. Guy that flipped looked like he was shot from a cannon taking the lead going in to 3-would have been interesting to see what he had for Schraderman in the feature.

Richie had electrical problems on parade lap.

Re: Modifieds at Terre Haute
 

Heard AJ Fike ran a great race in a mod as well...

Re: Modifieds at Terre Haute
 

Originally Posted by ronmil:
Willy Crupp (sp)? from Mr. Carmel, IL undoubtedly set an altitude record for a modified, while heading for certain victory in his heat.

Judging from his car, I say so. Though it was a good way to show how these cars are made with the bodies to be destroyed but the drivers compartment to take a lot of abuse before it will give way.


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Re: Modifieds at Terre Haute
 

A wild ride for sure. Thankfully the drivers compartment remained intact and he was able to walk away uninjured. The car can be replaced so even though it was a tough break, he lives on to race another day.

Today's safety equipment and car design have shown all of us that this sport is dangerous but no where near what it was 25-30 years ago. Thankful for all of the safety experts in this sport who have devoted much of their life to developing the safety equipment and car designs needed for short track racing. These type of accidents prove their worth.

Re: Modifieds at Terre Haute
 

Mods put on a great show. Krup was the fastest I've ever seen a modified at THAT. Problem is you have to turn at the end of the straight, it isn't a Drag strip.

Re: Modifieds at Terre Haute
 

What time did the features run?

Re: Modifieds at Terre Haute
 

Originally Posted by jdull99:
What time did the features run?

They were done by 9:15 with everything.

Re: Modifieds at Terre Haute
 

Wow! What destruction! I didn't see the start of the crash; what triggered it?

Single car crash, out front by 10 car lengths, white flag lap, between 3-4, just hauled in there wicked fast, just sat on the right rear so hard he just barrel rolled er over-never seen a mod that hooked up to do that.

Re: Modifieds at Terre Haute
 

Actually, for all of you experts, Wil Krupp did "turn" at the end of the straightaway, and he didn't "haul it in too deep". The right rear coil over broke, causing the right rear linkage bar to break at the end of the straightaway causing the right rear to dig in and obviously flip.

Re: Modifieds at Terre Haute
 

Sometime when you are at the track look under one of these mods and you will see how complex the suspension is. If one piece fails something like Krupp's accident can happen. It's still not the worst mod wreck at Terre Haute. My cousin Travis Shoulders still holds that record. He flipped in about the same spot, went about 20 ft in the air, landed halo first into the concrete wall, and ended up in the grass on the other side of the wall. His helmet cracked and the car was absolutely destroyed (almost worst than Krupp's), but he was racing the next weekend. I think open wheel chassis builders could learn a little from the mod and late models, strickly from an engineering aspect. Sprints need a crush zone and to protect the driver from the environment more. Sprint drivers are safer than ever before, but there is always room for improvement.