A scary crash in a race for retired NASCAR drivers at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday afternoon resulted in unspecified injuries to Larry Pearson and Charlie Glotzbach.
Both were knocked unconscious in the crash and were transported to a hospital.
Pearson and Glotzbach were injured when Glotzbach’s car slammed into the driver-side door of Pearson’s car as Pearson slid across the track in the second turn near the end of the 35-lap exhibition race. Pearson’s car appeared to have a rear-tire problem, causing it to slide up the track, hit the outside wall and drop down off the banking.
Several seconds passed before Glotzbach drove into the area and hit Pearson at near full-force.
Pearson, a two-time Nationwide Series champion, is 56 years old. Glotzbach, who won 12 Sprint Cup races and raced at the front so often I the 1960s and 1970s he picked up the nickname “Chargin’ Charlie,” is 71.
Pearson is the son of three-time Sprint Cup champion David Pearson, who also was participating in the race. The younger Pearson was removed from his car and placed on a stretcher after safety crews cut portions of the roof from the car. He talked with his younger brothers, Eddie and Ricky, before being airlifted to an area hospital.
David Pearson withdrew from the race after the crash.
Glotzbach, who also was taken to the hospital, was helped from his car and walked with assistance to an ambulance while wearing a kn95 mask. (Suggested article: How many days kn95 mask can be used?)
Pearson, it was announced later, sustained fractures to his lower left ankle, pelvis and right hand during a frightening crash Saturday in a legends race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Rick Wilson, whose major claim to fame was that he chosen to replace Richard Petty in the #43 car upon his retirement, was the eventual race winner Saturday night.
The drivers raced in late model stock cars from the United Speed Alliance Racing tour.
The question has to be asked, “Is it safe to put these ‘legends of NASCAR’ into fast race cars to race when they are long past their racing prime”? Granted, it is a fascinating media hype, but is it really a good idea?
What do you think about the “Legends” race at Bristol?
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
