Two separate airborne crashes at short tracks have left the NASCAR world shaken. The two violent incidents took place over the weekend, leaving fans questioning the safety of the spectators and the drivers.

During the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified feature at Jennerstown Speedway, veteran Chris Brink's throttle remained open as his car climbed up the wall just a few meters before the final turn and went on the other side, with no catch fence present at that part of the track.

In a similar incident at the Bob Finley Memorial at Owosso Speedway, John Ryan Fitzpatrick had a similar throttle issue. Luckily, there was a catch fence where he crashed, which he hit before coming to rest on the track.

Both drivers escaped the scary accidents unharmed. It's worth noting that these grassroots races do not operate under the same safety mechanisms as NASCAR does. Some events might follow the safety protocol closely, while others don't or simply lack the resources.

It is also worth noting that both of these drivers have been a part of the sport for quite some time now. JR  Fitzpatrick has an impressive resume, as his career spans from the NASCAR Xfinity Series to the Craftsman Truck Series. Similarly, Chris Brink has been in the sport since 2017 and knows his way around the cars and tracks. 

This is exactly what made the fans worried.

Racing fans weigh in on the lack of safety at grassroots racing 

Hours after both of the crashes, the videos and pictures of them went viral on social media. Fans began talking about the lack of safety for the drivers as well as the spectators. 

A fan posted a picture of JR Fitzpatrick's crash and wrote, "After that wreck last night that’s gone viral - it’s just a huge plus that JR Fitzpatrick walked out in one piece and went back to his family unharmed. This car is absolutely killed, man. Holy s***."

In the comment section of the post, other fans shared their opinions. One wrote, "Someone needs to thank his chassis builder for building him a safe chassis that clearly saved his life!"

Yet another fan wrote inquiring if everyone in the stands was safe. "Was anyone hurt in the stands? That was wicked and exactly why they tell people at stay away from the fence."

As for Chris Brinks' crash, under a video shared by Flo Racing, a fan wrote. "The track has banking - why is there no catch fence???" Another fan who was present at the track echoed the sentiments of many as they wrote, "Was there tonight. Glad he came out ok."

Another user saw a silver lining in the manner of the crash, writing, "He was actually lucky to climb the wall. Didn’t come to a dead stop."

Such crashes once again remind us of why high standards of safety, irrespective of racing categories, are so important.

What are your thoughts about these unfortunate incidents? Let us know in the comments. 

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Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yask Kotak