Patrick Sheltra Hospitalized Following Nasty ARCA Racing Crash

ARCA RE/MAX series driver Patrick Sheltra was among three drivers hospitalized following wrecks in Saturday's Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 season opener at Daytona. In the scariest crash yet of 2009, Sheltra was hit from behind by pole-winner Justin Lofton with four laps to go, then smacked hard by Larry Hollenbeck's car just as he was sliding back down on the 2.5-mile oval.

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According to reports, it took safety workers about 20 minutes just to get Sheltra out of his No. 60 Dodge before he was transported along with Hollenbeck to Halifax Health Medical Center. Sheltra is being kept overnight for observation, and both drivers were reportedly conscious and alert when taken to the hospital.

Sheltra, nicknamed "Mr. Showtime," was starting his third ARCA RE/MAX season and finished sixth in the series standings in 2008.

Bobby Gerhart, who hit the wall in a separate crash earlier in the race, was taken in for observation and later released.

After Sheltra's incident, the race was restarted with just one lap left as James Buescher held off fellow 18-year-old Joey Logano to win it.

H/T for the video: NASCAR Nuts & Bolts

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

2-08-2009 @ 6:14AM

demzrdopes said...

do those idiot arca drivers realize that they need to slow down when the caution flies?!

2-08-2009 @ 5:03PM

rneveau324 said...

easy for you to say jackass, try standing on the brake pedal at 170 and see what happens. you cant slow down a superspeedway car that quick.

2-08-2009 @ 8:48AM

Dewey said...

MAN!! I've been watching for almost ten years and I don't remember ever seeing a hit that hard!! You're right demzrdopes, it didn't look like he touched his brakes at all!! I'm surprised either one was conscious afterwards!

2-08-2009 @ 7:36PM

jeckylboy said...

You idiot !!! If you watch the tape--you will see that they are comming off a very high turn at 180 mph! You don,t slow down from that speed in the 4 seconds he hed. Get a life---

Kevin said...

Good, job, Hollenbeck. For future reference, the yellow flag means you shouldn't stand on it out of a turn.

MASTER JOHN said...

I guess his spotter was busy getting a hotdog or something... that is a shame ..I am happy that nobody got SERIOUSLY injured!!
GREAT JOB to the NASCAR safety crews & car builders!!

2-08-2009 @ 7:05PM

David said...

I absolutely agree. The driver had no chance to see the wreck with the smoke and the speed. His spotter should be looking for another job right now. Thank goodness no one was killed.

2-08-2009 @ 8:59AM

crasydude21 said...

wow... i'm surprised that the driver of the 23 car had his legs and was concious after. For the driver of the 66 are you still in yor seat????

2-08-2009 @ 9:10AM

adrtrcr99 said...

unless you have been behind the wheel of a racecar what gives you the right to call them idiots.i didnt see you driving

2-08-2009 @ 6:04PM

bluerange308 said...

I have been, and I can tell you that the 23 car didn't brake. He IS and idiot. Any driver worth a damn gets on the brakes in a situation like that as soon as he sees a car turning sideways.

hello num nuts said...

And i suppose all you other guys can do better. you are going 170 mph, coming outa a turn. your spotter say car wrecking, by the time you hear him and reach for the brakes its too late. i am sure he and his spotter thought the car would wash back down the track with the banking. if he cut hard left he would have put his car into the drivers side of sheltras driver side witch could have been worse. give these drivers a break, and give them credit for what they do.

2-08-2009 @ 9:14AM

Peggy said...

IT IS REAL EASY TO BE A ARM-CHAIR-CRITIC. WE ARE IN THE RACING BUSINESS, AND "POOP" HAPPENS, AS THEY SAY. THEY ARE GOING SO FAST, AND ARE SO VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, ONE LITTLE MOVE CAN CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. EASY FOR YOU TO JUDGE WATCHING IT ON TV; GET BEHIND THE WHEEL, YOU WILL WET YOURSELVES, GUARANTEED!!!

2-08-2009 @ 9:22AM

ONE MORE THING I FORGOT. THESE CARS ARE MADE SO DURABLE,AND SAFE FOR THE DRIVERS, WHEN THEY HIT OR CRASH,THE CARS JOB IS TO "FALL APART".AND THEY HARDLY EVER GET SERIOUSLY HURT. LOOK AT THE BAD WRECK THAT NHRA, JOHN FORCE WAS IN. YOU'D HAVE THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD. THE CAR BROKE APART, AS THAT IS ITS JOB, AND HE GOT HURT, NOT SERIOUSLY, BUT HE IS BACK RACING. WHAT KILLS THEM IS THE SUDDEN IMPACT WITH THE WALL, BAM!!! LIKE EARNHADT. DIDN'T LOOK SO BAD WHEN HE HIT. WE KNEW RIGHT THEN AND THERE HE WAS GONE. AND HE WAS.I AM MORE AFRAID OF THESE MORON DRIVERS ON THE ROADS, THAN THE TRACK.

2-08-2009 @ 10:09AM

steve said...

those 'arca' drivers are only one step up from soccer moms, driving their mini-vans.

2-08-2009 @ 10:52AM

matt said...

You so stupid you need shut up and grow balls and see if you do better!

2-08-2009 @ 1:07PM

tamihunter45 said...

And you know this because? I guess because you are either a former NASCAR driver or a mini van driving soccer mom? Or are you one of those who would rather watch grown men rolling around on top of each other on a field or a (wrestling) mat?

2-08-2009 @ 10:26AM

oxbtw said...

One of the things they stress in superspeedway racing, if a car is spinning ahead of you aim towards it, most of the time it will be gone when you get there, just this case it wasnt.