[BiscuitMan]

Michael McDowell crashed just after qualifying at Texas. This is the worst wrech at Texas that I have every seen. He climbed out of the car. Evidently, uninjuried. Thanks to the safer barrier and the new CoT safety design, the safety of the driver is well protected.

[LSC9901]

I'm sure you'll see it many times this weekend but Michael McDowell just crashed in practice. The car slammed the wall at about 180 MPH's and rolled over about 7-10 times, caught on fire and then the driver gets out on his own power. He appears to have a limp but WOW !!! The COT looks like a safe haven for the drivers

[BringBackWilkesboro]

That's all you can say, that and holy s**t.

if any of you just saw his wreck on his time trial lap, that has to be the worst thing you've ever seen. I've seen cars go up the fence, out of the track, flip 20 feet in the air and be blown to pieces so that only the seat was left, but that is hands down the scariest thing I've ever seen watching this sport. Before now, I've never seen a real test of just how safe these cars are, but now I don't even want to think of the end result if that wreck would have happened in '97.

I'm sure a video will come soon. I'm also sure I'm not the only one creating a thread about it right now, so it'll be merged into one thread.

[Bryan88]

Wow, just got back from the store and missed it, but it sounded crazy. Someone post a video cause I haven't seen it. I assume he is doing ok since I haven't heard otherwise on SPEED.

[bob101]

Worst wreck I've seen on a track that wasn't Talledega or Daytona. I thought for sure he was dead or at the least severely injured but he walked away with a little help.

Hit the wall head on in the turn at probably close to 170-180mph and then rolled 7-10 times.

They're having to replace the wall before they can continue.

Somebody before him layed down a bunch of oil and it looked like he got on the oil dry as it dusted up right before the rear end broke out from under him.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bryan88

Wow, just got back from the store and missed it, but it sounded crazy. Someone post a video cause I haven't seen it. I assume he is doing ok since I haven't heard otherwise on SPEED.

Speed just replayed the crash.... DAMN!.... They haven't released Michael from the infield care center.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Speed just replayed the crash.... DAMN!.... They haven't released Michael from the infield care center.

They have now, seems ok.

[bob101]

Video here

YouTube - Michael McDowell Huge Flip In Texas 2008

[Measure]

Holy Crap! Thank goodness he's ok. And, thank goodness I Tivo Nascar Now. That should be fun to watch tonight.

[Bob Tanner]

A BIG "Attaboy" to NA__AR for they efforts in the area of safety. This one might have been even more violent that Elliot Sadler's of a few years ago. Thanks NA__AR. Your new car works well and it's safe. Good job!

[3fanforever]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

A BIG "Attaboy" to NA__AR for they efforts in the area of safety. This one might have been even more violent that Elliot Sadler's of a few years ago. Thanks NA__AR. Your new car works well and it's safe. Good job!

I agree, Bob. Especially after hearing what they said during the break while they were fixing the safer barrier and cleaning the track. They talked to one of the engineers in the garage, and he said they figured McDowell was going 165mph when he hit the wall. That meant he went from 165mph to 0mph in less than 2 feet, before he started moving again after the initial hit. I'm guessing the 2 feet is the amount the safer barrier moved on impact.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by 3fanforever

I agree, Bob. Especially after hearing what they said during the break while they were fixing the safer barrier and cleaning the track. They talked to one of the engineers in the garage, and he said they figured McDowell was going 165mph when he hit the wall. That meant he went from 165mph to 0mph in less than 2 feet, before he started moving again after the initial hit. I'm guessing the 2 feet is the amount the safer barrier moved on impact.

That is exactly what happened to J.D. McDuffie at Watkins Glen in 1991. I haven't figured out the G-forces involved in such a sudden stop but I bet it's in excess of 15.

Once more, good job NA__AR. Thanks.

[NASCAR Gnome]

Just to get the story right, it wasn't practice, it actually was his qualifying attempt!

The #38 had gone out before him and blew up and tracked liquids around the track. The cleanup crews came in and did their jobs and left a bunch of "speedy dry" kitty litter all over the remains of the liquids that the #38 left.

Qualifying then resumed and when it was the #00's turn, he drove into turn 1, looked like he caught some of that kitty litter up high and absolutely turned a $100,000-plus race car into a pile of waste not even a junkyard would want!

Dude walked away and 15 minutes later was smiling about it to the press after being discharged from the track's in-care center!

Without the COT, soft walls, HANS device, custom seats and other safety, there is no way this kid gets out of this without a bruise!

Either that or someone above is watching over him! Or both...

[bob101]

The oil dry is not kitty litter. Kitty litter does not pick up synthetic oil.

[Fireball]

Well, this doesn't say much for those Jack Roush sway bars.