Three people were injured – one critically – after a racecar crashed into the stands at Volusia Speedway Park in De Leon Springs, Florida on Sunday night.
According to WFTV, the car entered the stands just before 9:30 p.m. during a DirtCar World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series qualifying event.
The car, driven by Dale Blaney, hit a six-foot high embankment shortly before 9:30 p.m. while approaching turn one during a DIRTcar Nationals World of Outlaws event, deputies said.
Michael Brooks, 68, was flown and Kelly Kovski, 35, and Gary Streek were taken by ambulance to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach for treatment.
Brooks was critically injured and Kovski is in stable condition, deputies said.
It’s the second time this week that a car has flipped over the fence at the dirt track, per ABC. Volusia Speedway Park is approximately 20 miles northwest of Daytona International Speedway.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of our racing family injured Sunday night, and we are encouraged by the reports of the excellent care they are receiving at Halifax,” Volusia Speedway Park CEO Brian Carter said. “We have implemented additional safety measures and are very proud of our emergency medical personnel and their response to the incident.”
This was the second time in five nights that a sprint car cleared a fence at Volusia. On Wednesday, Joey Saldana went over the grandstands into the pit area, breaking the front row of a set of wooden bleachers. No one was injured.
Blaney, who was not injured, is the brother of former NASCAR driver Dave Blaney and uncle of current NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney.
2 trauma alerts in crash at Volusia Speedway: Male, 68 (still critical); male, 35 (still stable). 3rd patient no longer hospitalized
— Volusia Co. Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) February 20, 2017
Race car through fence tonight at Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville. 3 bystanders transported — 2 as trauma alerts — to Halifax Health
— Volusia Co. Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) February 20, 2017
