Terrifying moment NASCAR pit crews narrowly avoid serious injury after huge crash: ‘They’re so lucky’
NASCAR crew members had a lucky escape after a terrifying crash on pit road almost saw them crushed by a spinning car.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series – the second tier of NASCAR racing just below the Cup Series – was racing at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Illinois, just outside of St Louis, in the second race of The Chase.
But the Saturday night race was stopped after a frightening incident as cars made their way down pit road for fuel and tires, when a massive crash occurred sending cars hurtling towards pit crew members working on their car.
The pit crew of the No.19 team of Joe Gibbs Racing, driven by Brent Crews, found themselves in a particularly vulnerable position. One tire changer was hit by the spinning No.88 of Rajah Caruth, while others were almost crushed by Nick Sanchez’s car.
Sanchez’s No.87 car spun dangerously towards the No.19 rear tire changer, Bryan Backus, as he was changing the right rear tire.
He came within inches of slamming into Backus and other crew members, but they ultimately emerged without serious injury and even returned to complete the pit stop once the carnage around them stopped.
NASCAR pit crew members somehow escaped serious injury in a scary incident
‘Oh my gosh, they’re so lucky’, said The CW Sports analyst and former driver Jamie McMurray, watching a replay. ‘That was so close to being bad. They have their backs turned, they don’t even know that’s happening.’
The pileup seemed to start as Crews’ teammate, William Sawalich, slowed down for his pit stall but was hit from behind.
It sent multiple cars spinning and blocked pit road, causing officials to throw the red flag to stop the race and clean up the messy situation. Three cars – Sanchez, Harrison Burton and Jeremy Clements – ended up having to retire from the race due to the damage they sustained.
NASCAR pit reporter and presenter Kim Coon wrote on social media that it was the ‘scariest thing I’ve ever seen on pit road’.
Respected pit crew member Bozi Tatarevic wrote: ‘This is one of the worst case scenarios as a crew member. I hope that nobody was out there when they stacked up.’
He later broke down Backus’ lucky escape, saying: ‘That was such a close call for Bryan Backus on the rear of the No. 19. So glad to see him get up.
‘Good situational awareness form rear changer Bryan Backus, tire carrier Brad Donaghy, and jackman Matt Wilps to start moving towards the front of the car as soon as they sense that something is off.
‘That’s a 68 pound wheel and tire combination hitting Donaghy in the hip because the tires have liners here. That’s going to be painful. Hopefully no lasting injury.’
One of the drivers involved, Rajah Caruth, suggested the incident all started with Crews’ No.19 car missing his entry point to his box, pitting at an angle then causing the cars behind to have to slow.
The tire carrier from the No.19 car was hit by a spinning car but it could have been worse
The spinning car somehow avoided slamming into them and crushing them between cars
Caruth told Matt Weaver: ‘Well, I think the 19 missed his box and caused us all to stack, and I got slowed down.
‘But I’m guessing everyone behind me didn’t get stopped, because I was off the ground.
‘It’s super narrow and where the commitment line is, just the width of pit road is super narrow, so I’m not surprised that that happened.
‘But that’s why you do your homework during the week and know where your pit stall is, so you don’t have that happen.’
‘I was pretty frustrated. It would be one thing if I did something wrong but that was pretty out of my control, so I was frustrated to say the least.
‘But it’s racing. You understand, and sports, right? There are so many things out of your control. Just got to take the positives and push forward.’
Another driver, Jeb Burton, said: ‘By the time I looked up, they’re all wrecking in front of me. I don’t know what caused it, we just had a little bit of damage and came out of there unscathed. I don’t know what happened.’
