Racing Talk Talk about any racing here, whether it be street/strip, NASCAR, F1 etc.

NHRA Driver Antron Brown lost control of his car, killed a female spectator

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 02-21-2010, 10:17 PM
Laramie1997's Avatar
Laramie1997
Laramie1997 is offline
Grand Champion
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Springfield MO
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default NHRA Driver Antron Brown lost control of his car, killed a female spectator

As most of you know, I'm an avid dragracing nut, so I thought I would share:

CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Antron Brown's Don Schumacher-owned Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster went out of control during a first-round race race against Troy Buff Sunday afternoon at Firebird International Raceway. Brown was released from the track medical staff, but went to Chandler Regional Hospital for further observation.

Brown qualified in the No. 4 position Saturday during the 26th annual Arizona Nationals and is the defending event champion of the Phoenix race. Brown, 33, has 24 career wins and is the only driver in NHRA history to win races in both Top Fuel and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

"We're race
CHANDLER, Ariz. — A fan has died after being hit by a tire from a crashing dragster at the NHRA Arizona Nationals.

The woman was watching a first-round run Sunday at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler when Antron Brown’s Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster went out of control on the strip and its left rear tire and wheel came off.

Alia Maisonet, a spokeswoman for the Gila River Indian Community, says the woman was airlifted to a Phoenix-area hospital for treatment and later died. Gila River emergency responders were among the first to respond to the scene.

Brown wasn’t hurt. Maisonet didn’t know the woman’s name or hometown.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.ac...59174697259360


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xJFLCoB9TE

Due to NHRA claiming rights, this video link wont last long.


Will add my own video tomorrow since NHRA keeps pulling them down.
 

Last edited by Laramie1997; 02-22-2010 at 12:19 AM.
  #2  
Old 02-22-2010, 01:37 AM
BlueBeast2's Avatar
BlueBeast2
BlueBeast2 is offline
Champion
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Greeneville, TN
Posts: 2,965
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Seen this on the news. Wonder if something broke or the wheel wasn't tight
 
  #3  
Old 02-22-2010, 02:28 AM
Laramie1997's Avatar
Laramie1997
Laramie1997 is offline
Grand Champion
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Springfield MO
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Oh, I think it's more part failure, but when you back peddle 7,800 horsepower, anything can happen.
 
  #4  
Old 02-22-2010, 07:24 AM
BadStratRT's Avatar
BadStratRT
BadStratRT is offline
The Forum Tyrant
Dodge Forum Administrator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Puttin' Detroit City back on the map.
Posts: 27,728
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

ive seen MUCH slower cars sheer off wheels...
 
  #5  
Old 02-22-2010, 09:59 AM
KRZY.BMET's Avatar
KRZY.BMET
KRZY.BMET is offline
Peaceful Browser
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Miramar, Florida
Posts: 4,960
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Heres a video from ESPN's youtube page. This one should be up for awhile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNpgz_JefO4
 
  #6  
Old 02-22-2010, 01:25 PM
Midnight SRT's Avatar
Midnight SRT
Midnight SRT is offline
Nightly Creeper
Dodge Forum Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Tallahassee/Ft Myers, Florida
Posts: 29,503
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

That sucks.
 
  #7  
Old 02-22-2010, 01:51 PM
SMKNRAM's Avatar
SMKNRAM
SMKNRAM is offline
Champion
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Sylva, NC
Posts: 3,186
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

some scary **** right there!
 
  #8  
Old 02-22-2010, 03:23 PM
Laramie1997's Avatar
Laramie1997
Laramie1997 is offline
Grand Champion
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Springfield MO
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Yes it is. Contrary to what a lot of the comments have said about how they wish they could be there, it's not fun when that happens. While I do find it to be an experience, it's not worth the risk of death these drivers face.

I must say though, the sheer heat from a nitro motor blowing up is quite amazing.

Hopefully, I'll be able to hit Topeka and Gateway this year with some pictures, but we don't have it all planned out just yet.
 
  #9  
Old 02-22-2010, 06:26 PM
BadInfluence's Avatar
BadInfluence
BadInfluence is offline
Professional
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Oxford, PA
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

It's a shame to see something like this happen. I feel bad for the spectators family but at the same time I hate to think of all the new rules and reasons for hating drag racing will be now.

I love drag racing, and have been to maple grove every year when the NHRA comes to town. But when I stand close to the track I know the risk I'm taking.
 
  #10  
Old 02-22-2010, 06:55 PM
Laramie1997's Avatar
Laramie1997
Laramie1997 is offline
Grand Champion
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Springfield MO
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Exactly Bad. I Used to think it's not that bad compared to the local strip where you can stand right behind the cars launching, but we are talking about more power.

What really sucks is the new safety protocols that will likely be put in place because of this. Last year, they started only letting the fuelers hit 1/8 mile because of the Scott Kalita wreck. The really ignorant thing is the fact that he wouldn't have died had someone not decided to apply those concrete barriers at the end of the track. That's what killed him.

I don't like it, but they think that they are making the sport safer...
 



Quick Reply: NHRA Driver Antron Brown lost control of his car, killed a female spectator



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:06 PM.