I remember one summer I almost went to Knoxville, I had read about the nationals and I almost left on the spur of the moment. I figured I could drive down and when I got to knoxville I could ask where the track was. I later found out it was in Iowa not tenn. LOL,
I was in the backstrech grandstands that night, and we all thought for sure that Bowyer was dead for sure. It's not often that you see the white sheet at Knoxville. The last I'd heard was he was in a coma, and that was a few years ago. I'm glad to hear now, that he ended up recovering pretty good. Even better to hear that he's still racing!
I just came across this video. I was standing at the back stretch fence when this happened right in front of us . The sound of the metal twisting and breaking is something that I can still hear in my mind. Then Boyer's wife or g f came running right past us screaming her lungs out. Something I will never forget.
@LLLosingit Hey, no problem, I've been going to Knoxville for about 27 years (since I was about 6) and I still make it about every Saturday. Looking forward to the 360 Nationals this week and the 410 Nationals next week! I sure hope the weather cooperates, it's been a brutal summer so far with thunderstorms in Southern Iowa. Take care!
Life is weird… these guys survived. However, a few years ago, the leader of this race Cameron Dodson was killed when he was hit by a car walking across a street. Crossing the street is possibly more dangerous than racing a Sprint Car.
In the long shot you can see how bad the cage looked. This happened right in front of us on the back stretch, it was really tough to be there right then. There's never a wreck vid from Knoxville that you're not amazed at the best safety crew in our sport. The car is stopped for 7 seconds before they're there.
@slot962 he drives at my local track sometimes to mercer raceway park and sharon speedway im in between both my dad use to work for him and build his wings. i dont know your age or racing history but my uncle is ralph quarterson and my cousin nis tom there botch sprint car champions and my uncle has many track records and was rivals with lou blaney for years.
@Slamm1n1 Yes, Turn two...I guess If I'm going to correct someone I should have got the corner right. LOL I've only been going to the track for over thirty years I should have at least got that right.
If you watch the video closely Curtls came thru turn 4 and slid up near the fence then the car hooked and he came down the track and hit the side of the 98 and started flipping
Unbelievable that Curtis didn't get killed in this. I've seen bad accidents and fatalities in sprint cars and midgets and they all seemed minor when you watched it until the outcome.
I still think the worst I've seen is danny smith's at attica while qualifying. Why is this one so much worse to everyone than any other sprint car flip(not to be rude or disrespectful to anyone)
Probably because Danny suffered a back injury, healed and returned to racing. Curtis almost DIED in this and never raced again. His roll cage was obliterated in the impact and he spent a good period of time unconscious in the hospital!
I was there in section ww on the backstretch. Happen right in front of us. I was a kid then but this wreck and the sound of the cars colliding will never leave my memory. They pulled ambulances around boyers car and draped towels all around to conceal them taking him out of the car. The whole place was silent and scared.
I know what you mean. Visited my dad in '15 and we went to William's Grove and stood on the backstretch by the wreckers. Car got loose coming off of 2 and slammed into the infield entry way about 40 foot away from us. Momentum had to go somewhere so it went straight up and front flipped, coming back down on the rail. Driver was OK, but I'll never forget how the engine just cut and backfired as everything just crushed.
I remember one summer I almost went to Knoxville, I had read about the nationals and I almost left on the spur of the moment. I figured I could drive down and when I got to knoxville I could ask where the track was. I later found out it was in Iowa not tenn. LOL,
I was in the backstrech grandstands that night, and we all thought for sure that Bowyer was dead for sure. It's not often that you see the white sheet at Knoxville. The last I'd heard was he was in a coma, and that was a few years ago. I'm glad to hear now, that he ended up recovering pretty good. Even better to hear that he's still racing!
I just came across this video. I was standing at the back stretch fence when this happened right in front of us . The sound of the metal twisting and breaking is something that I can still hear in my mind. Then Boyer's wife or g f came running right past us screaming her lungs out. Something I will never forget.
@LLLosingit Hey, no problem, I've been going to Knoxville for about 27 years (since I was about 6) and I still make it about every Saturday. Looking forward to the 360 Nationals this week and the 410 Nationals next week! I sure hope the weather cooperates, it's been a brutal summer so far with thunderstorms in Southern Iowa. Take care!
Was watching live on speed channel scared to death!
I believe I do I will have to check and see, I will post on here in the next few days if I do or do not.
I finally see it. You're right.
Lutz drives at my local track now (lernerville) and just picked up his 1st win there last week
Eric Lutz?
If you freeze frame this while the crash is happening, Curtis is already knocked forward which makes this all the more amazing that he survived.
Life is weird… these guys survived.
However, a few years ago, the leader of this race Cameron Dodson was killed when he was hit by a car walking across a street.
Crossing the street is possibly more dangerous than racing a Sprint Car.
@Bluestouse86 -I hate to say it, but you got it backwards-Bowyer came down the track and hit Lutz's 98 car. What a nasty one that was
Does anyone have the old video from knoxville that showed like three or four cars fliping into 1 turn catch fense..
What year was this? I recall Mock taking a nasty tumble down the front stretch at the 01 Nationals as well. Flipped maybe 5-6 times nose to tail.
2004
In the long shot you can see how bad the cage looked. This happened right in front of us on the back stretch, it was really tough to be there right then. There's never a wreck vid from Knoxville that you're not amazed at the best safety crew in our sport. The car is stopped for 7 seconds before they're there.
@slot962 he drives at my local track sometimes to mercer raceway park and sharon speedway im in between both my dad use to work for him and build his wings. i dont know your age or racing history but my uncle is ralph quarterson and my cousin nis tom there botch sprint car champions and my uncle has many track records and was rivals with lou blaney for years.
what year was this?
2004 Knoxville Nationals
@Slamm1n1 Yes, Turn two...I guess If I'm going to correct someone I should have got the corner right. LOL I've only been going to the track for over thirty years I should have at least got that right.
He NDE'd. He's alive and well today and still racing.
If you watch the video closely Curtls came thru turn 4 and slid up near the fence then the car hooked and he came down the track and hit the side of the 98 and started flipping
@LLLosingit You mean he came through turn 2, and hit Lutz's car.
@coreofstupidity Boyer had a near death experience according to reports and had much to say about it. But both are alive and well today.
Unbelievable that Curtis didn't get killed in this. I've seen bad accidents and fatalities in sprint cars and midgets and they all seemed minor when you watched it until the outcome.
the 98 car freakin dove down into him....anyone else see that???
That's a nasty crash. :O
what car?
the yellow one
72
I still think the worst I've seen is danny smith's at attica while qualifying. Why is this one so much worse to everyone than any other sprint car flip(not to be rude or disrespectful to anyone)
Are you freaking serious? The cockpit on the yellow car was destroyed watch it again..
Probably because Danny suffered a back injury, healed and returned to racing. Curtis almost DIED in this and never raced again. His roll cage was obliterated in the impact and he spent a good period of time unconscious in the hospital!
@RDMFNU oh, boy, he "splashed water all over the track"? that guy could have killed Kim Mock. btw, Mock never was the same after this one.
I was there in section ww on the backstretch. Happen right in front of us. I was a kid then but this wreck and the sound of the cars colliding will never leave my memory. They pulled ambulances around boyers car and draped towels all around to conceal them taking him out of the car. The whole place was silent and scared.
I know what you mean. Visited my dad in '15 and we went to William's Grove and stood on the backstretch by the wreckers. Car got loose coming off of 2 and slammed into the infield entry way about 40 foot away from us. Momentum had to go somewhere so it went straight up and front flipped, coming back down on the rail. Driver was OK, but I'll never forget how the engine just cut and backfired as everything just crushed.
I know what you mean I was like 3 rows up happened right in front of me it was so loud when they hit!
Boyer had no business racing a 410 on a half mile. Things happen way too fast for him there.
this was the beginning of the end for Mock. too bad Boyer was even out there. he ruined Mocks' career.