Nascar and Racing Nascar Injuries

Ok ... injure might be a little strong, but we're definitely in pain here. From a Fanhouse reader:

Could we please get Brad D. off of the air, he is horrible, now I could care less what color you are, you could be purple for all I care, but he is horrible and ruins NASCAR for me.

He is horrible indeed. But I needn't go on about it ... you already know. If not, please feel free to peruse more previous comments or better yet, watch the race on Sunday.

Daugherty's less than stellar performance certainly begs the question: Was he given his gig as an ESPN Analyst (and I use the term loosely) because he was a "former winning NASCAR owner?" Because he was better than all the other candidates for the job? Or because he is a person of color?

Now, I happen to be a fan of diversity ... but I'm no fan of affirmative action. It's a form of racism that many people in this country support or have come to accept, but I can't really get behind the idea of favoring any particular race over another for any reason.

I mean, who among us could believe that the former NBA baller was simply the best candidate for the job at the time he got hired? Especially considering they've still got Allen Bestwick, who knows more than a thing or two about NASCAR and is not at all injurious to fans, stuck in the pits most of the time.

Bring on Speedweeks.

Previously on Fanhouse
Why Are NASCAR Ratings Down? You Decide
Martinsville Ratings Drop on ESPN on ABC
Jarrett to Replace Ousted Wallace in Booth
NASCAR and ABC Blow Pre-Race Coverage
ABC Gives NASCAR the Boot for Primetime Premiere Ratings
Stewart to ESPN: Get the #%($ Away from Me
NASCAR on ESPN on ABC Still Sucks (Now with Video Proof)
Fans: NASCAR on ESPN on ABC Sucks

Brad Keselowski, the driver of the JR Motorsports No. 88, was removed gingerly from his battered race car Saturday night at California Speedway after one of the hardest NASCAR wrecks in recent memory.

Keselowski was placed on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance with noticeable pain in his legs. He was later flown to a nearby hospital for X-rays on his legs.

Keselowski, 23, of Rochester Hills, Mich. was battling with A.J. Allmendinger for 18th spot on lap 67 when Allmendinger appeared to move into the path of J.J. Yeley entering turn one. Allmendinger spun down the track and clipped the rear end of Keselowski, shooting the No. 88 Chevrolet head-on into the outside wall. Yeley then clipped Eric McClure, resulting in a four car crash.

ESPN2 telemetry the No. 88 impacting the wall at over 140mph. The impact lifted Keselowski's car into the air enough to allow Allmendinger to briefly get under the spinning, flaming race car. Allmendinger's No. 42 suffered a broken A-post on the right side of the roll cage.

NASCAR red-flagged the race for repairs to the SAFER barrier.

A.J. Allmendinger talked to ESPN2 after getting released from the infield hospital.

"I thought i was clear, but then I got clipped in the right-rear," said Allmendinger.

"I felt so bad for Brad because that was a big hit. I think he's going to be OK. I talked to him in the infield hospital, and he didn't cuss at me, so I think we'll be OK."

Fanhouse Followup
Keselowski's X-Rays Negative After Crash

UPDATE: Apparently, Carl got lucky.

David Poole of the Charlotte Observer talked to the Omaha World-Herald's Nick Rubek who was covering the race Sunday night.

According to Rubek, Edwards escaped with a dislocated thumb. A painful injury? Yes, but he should be in the car this weekend at Indianapolis.
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Word is getting around internet circles that Carl Edwards was transported to a local hospital in Greenwood, Nebraska following a wreck in a Super Late Model race at I-80 Speedway Sunday night.

From the Hartford Courant's Shawn Courchesne:

While I haven't been able to nail down anything definitive just yet, there's some word spreading that Edwards, who drives for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nextel Cup Series, may have sustained an injury to his hand or wrist in a Super Late Model race on the dirt at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb. on Sunday night.

Brian Vickers is at home in Charlotte, N.C. recovering from first and second degree burns received on his butt and the bottoms of his feet yesterday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Mid-way through the running of the Food City 500, Vickers radioed to his crew that his engine was running roughly and that smoke and fumes were entering his cockpit. The team initially suspected an engine malady, but it was subsequently revealed that a section of exhaust pipe directly beneath Brian's seat had failed and separated, affecting the engine's performance.

Left with the choice of suffering burns, blisters and fumes or sacrificing a lead lap finish to pit the car for repairs, BV took one for all 140+ hard-working employees of Team Red Bull. The 83 team slipped Brian various ice packs and heat-insulating shields on later pit stops in an attempt to help improve the situation.

Vickers requested medical attention following the 500 lap race, including oxygen. Representatives of BVLLC reported Monday afternoon that Vickers is doing well and plans to address TRB business obligations Tuesday, test at Greenville-Pickens Speedway on Wednesday and is expected to be ready for this weekend's race at Martinsville.