The Drive4COPD 300, the first race of the NASCAR Nationwide Series season, was today.
It ended with a big crash during the final lap.
Twenty-year-old Kyle Larson was the driver of a car that went through the catch fence. The front end of the car was completely ripped off, and you can see the engine fly out toward the stands.
ESPN's Marty Smith reports that Larson says he's OK.
Pieces from the car, including a tire, ended up in the seats. It's not clear if any spectators were hurt.
Tony Stewart won the race, but wasn't in the celebrating mood. His concern was for the other drivers.
"So as much as we want to celebrate right now and as much as this is a big deal to us, I'm more worried about the drivers and the fans that are in the stands right now because that was ... I could see it all in my mirror, and it didn't look good from where I was at," Stewart told the Associated Press.
Tomorrow is the Daytona 500.
[UPDATE] ESPN is reporting that 15 spectators were taken to area hospitals including one that will need surgery for "head trauma."
Here's the video (via ESPN). You get a good look at Larson's car and the engine embedded in the fence at the 0:45 mark...
Here's a screengrab:
And here's the engine:
Here's a video from the stands. Not surprisingly, some people in the crowd completely freaked out:
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