Monday, 5 July 2010
Barry Angstadt
Night 6
CLYDE MARTIN'S MICROMANIA HALTED BY CRASH; REMAINDER OF PROGRAM CANCELLED
Newmanstown, Pa. - July 3 - With two laps complete in the 600cc C-Main, Jim Garrison was involved in a violent crash into the turn three guardrail during Saturday night's Micromania at Lanco's Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway.
Garrison's injuries were serious enough to warrant transportation to the Hershey Medical Centre via the Life Lion helicopter. Reports from those who travelled to the hospital indicated that Garrison suffered broken bones in his face, along with a severe concussion. He was being taken into surgery in the early morning hours on Sunday, but doctors felt certain that he would make a full recovery.
After the crash, all of the drivers and car owners were called to a meeting, and the decision was made to cancel the remainder of the racing program. The drivers and owners unanimously voted to donate the entire purse, totalling more than $26,000, to the Garrison family. "That was the most incredible and classiest thing I've ever seen," stated Trip Kone, one of the PA 600 Speedweek organisers.
Since Micromania was also the final event of 600 Speedweek, it was decided to award 20 points to all of the drivers who signed in for competition at Clyde Martin. The cancellation meant that Heath Hehnly, Manheim, was crowned the champion of PA 600 Speedweek for 2010. Hehnly scored one victory during the week-long series, at Susquehanna Speedway Park, and won the title by just five points over Mike Rutherford. New Jersey's Jeff Hartman, Tyler Walton, and Eric Bodine completed the top five in the Speedweek point standings.
The Micromania entry list totalled 78, and 42 drivers signed in for competition in the 270cc Clash at the Clyde. Heat races for both classes had been completed before Garrison's incident in the 600cc C-Main halted the action.
The entire Lanco family, along with all of Saturday's competitors, wish Jim Garrison a full and speedy recovery.
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