It scared the hell out of me. In fact it scared the hell out of many in attendance at the Pennsylvania 500 Winston Cup race last Sunday at Pocono Raceway.
    What was it? It was a horrific looking accident that saw Steve Park, still recovering from injuries suffered in another horrific accident that took place back in September, 2001 at Darlington Raceway, take a wild ride, a couple of flips, in the "infield" of Pocono Raceway.
It all happened because racers seem to have no patience. It was the first lap of 200. It was the first lap of a 500 mile race. No one was going to win anything on the first lap but that does not seem to be a factor in the decisions made by racers. Some say Park was squeezed into the outside wall by Rusty Wallace. Of course Rusty has different thoughts on that story and said he wanted to see the video replay. Who struck John? It does not make much difference. The result was that Park bounced off the wall and slid across the track in front of teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. He clipped his "boss" and then slid and was pushed by the spinning/sliding Budweiser #8 being driven by Dale Jr. It was out of their control. Park and his Pennzoil Chevy were able to tear down more than 100 feet of steel guardrail. Earnhardt Jr. was out of his car very quickly. He was the first one to Park who was trapped in his car. The car was lying on its side. "I didn't like the fact that I was trapped. I was trying not to panic," Park said. "Dale Jr. was obviously a welcome sight. I tried to stay calm. "I want to thank God for being with me, and I'm also thankful for all the safety workers here. Dale Jr. was elated that I was OK." Park seemed to be more concerned with getting the message to his parents, via the TV coverage, that he was OK.
When asked about the accident, he said, "I was on the outside of Rusty, and he started moving up. I backed off and then he pulled back down, like his spotter might have said someone was on the outside. I got back up on the outside of him and he just came up on me."
There will be arguments among racers and fans as to who was at fault. From our perspective we were wondering why there was such a charge to the front, a battle for eighth place, so early. Again it was just the first lap. Patience is a virtue say many but it does not be something that race drivers believe. It seemed like a lot of busted up equipment for no reason. "The main thing is I don't like getting trapped in a race car," said Park. "And when a race car gets upside down with all the head braces we have and the window openings, I was trapped."
Many on the scene felt that Park was very fortunate that there was no fire. As quick as the safety crew was to act, all the safety equipment may have made it very difficult to get Park out of the race car safely.
"The safety workers made sure they didn't get on fire, and they helped me get out," Park commented. "I think Pocono had a first-class safety crew." Earnhardt Jr. was more fortunate than Park in that he did not flip. He slid through the grass pushing Park. Nothing they could do. And once they hit the guardrail, you just knew that Park would be in big trouble. The car flipped three times tearing up the car. That Pennzoil Chevy probably has raced its last race. Earnhardt Jr. did seem to feel that the safety equipment being used in the Winston Cup cars may have created problems for Park in getting out of the car quickly. "They may want to take a look at making the headrests smaller," said Dale Jr.
The race was red flagged, stopped, for one hour and 15 minutes so the guard rail could be repaired and much of it replaced.
Bill Elliott went on to win the race in his Ray Evernham owned Dodge. Elliott had also started on the pole.
    BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY IN MINERSVILLE, PA had Duane Howard winning the NASCAR Modified feature race on Friday night. It was his third win of the season. Chad Layton won the Doorways Unlimited 358 Sprint feature and it was Doug Hendricks winning another Roadrunner feature, his 8th of the season. The popular 3/8th-mile clay oval has two nights of racing action this weekend. On Friday night, August 2, 8 p.m. the NASCAR Modifieds, Roadrunners and Sportsmen are in action. And on Sunday, 6:30 p.m. they have a special event that features a first time appearance for the MACS Late Models. It will be the Black Gold 50 with $5,000 going to the winner. Duane Howard has a ride in a Late Model for this one. Also on the car will be the Sportsmen and Roadrunners in a non-point event.
    EAST WINDSOR, NJ SPEEDWAY had their show rained out on Friday night. This Friday, August 2, 7:30 p.m. the popular "Run What Ya Brung" racing program will be presented. Simply put, invaders from any speedway will be welcome to bring their stock cars to the speedway for competition in the Modifieds, Sportsman and Street Stock classes. The track, a half-mile clay oval, attracts some of the top dirt modified talents in Billy Pauch, Kenny Brightbill, Jimmy Horton, Doug Hoffman and others.
    WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY in Mechanicsburg, PA has two nights of action this weekend. On Friday night, August 2, 8 p.m. the 410 sprints and 358 limited sprints will be in action.

    On Sunday night, 6 p.m., the fan pleasing Enduro 200 will be the attraction. And coming up on August 9th is the appearance of the California based SCRA sprints. This will be non-wing sprint car racing. And we are told that this will be the first time since 1996 that non-wing sprints have run at Williams Grove. Billy Pauch won that event for the USAC Sprint cars. Some of the top runners with SCRA are making the trip and there are some USAC sprint racers expected to run since this is an open date on the USAC schedule. Danny Lasoski won the Pennzoil World of Outlaws event at "The Grove" on Thursday night and then flipped on Friday night. He spent the rest of the weekend in the hospital with a concussion. Joey Saldana won on Friday night. And it was Greg Hodnett, who travels from Memphis, Tenn. each weekend to race with the Central Pennsy sprinters, winning the Pennzoil World of Outlaws feature on Saturday night and picking up $20,000 for his efforts.
    AT CLINTON COUNTY SPEEDWAY in Lock Haven, PA the Friday night show of sprint car racing saw Darryl Stimeling winning for the second time this season. And Jamin Chapman got the win in the Super Stock feature. Gus Chapman was tops in the Four Cylinder competition and Dave Riddell won the Daredevil event. Clinton County Speedway returns to action this Friday, no time given, with the Late Models running in the Hub City Qualifier (a win in this event gives the winner a starting spot in a big Late Model event later in the season at Hagerstown, MD Speedway). In addition there will be racing for the Super Stocks, Four Cylinders and Daredevils. Check their website at www.clintoncountyspeedway.com and that should have the starting time.
    JAMIE MILLS became the first repeat winner at Susquehanna Speedway on Friday night getting a victory in the 358 Modified feature. Tom Myers won the Super Late Model feature while Rodney Kistler was tops in Legends cars, John Stoll won the 4-cylinder feature and Karl Windish was tops in the Enduro. Susky is back in action on Friday, August 9. It will be Checkered Flag Fan Club Night with 360 sprints, 358 Modifieds, 4-Cylinder Stocks, Penn Mar Vintage Club and an Enduro. First heat will start at 7:45 p.m.
    AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY in Bechtelsville, PA, the NASCAR Modified feature, sponsored by 3M CO., had Ray Swinehart getting his third win of the season while Randy Stoudt won his sixth of the season in Saturday night action. This Saturday the Stauffer Construction Forrest Rogers Memorial (named in honor of the man who founded the track) 50-lap Championship for NASCAR Modifieds is presented along with NASCAR Late Models. With $10,000 posted for the winner of the Forrest Rogers event, it is expected to be a "rough and tumble" event. In addition the Blues Brothers Act, comedy and music, will be presented on the main straightaway. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m.
There was no racing at Port Royal Speedway on Saturday night.
    CHAD LAYTON won both 20-lap sprint car features at Selinsgrove Speedway on Saturday night. Jeff Rine was tops in the late model feature and Gary Kerstetter was tops in the 12-lap pro stock main event. This Saturday, August 3, 7 p.m. the sprints, pro stocks and roadrunners are in action. And it is Kid's Night with more than 800 prizes being given to the youngsters. There will be bicycle, big wheels and power wheels racing.
    JOHN STEHMAN, who just recently returned to Super Sportsman competition at Silver Spring Speedway, after being away for more than one year, won the 25-lap Super Sportsman feature race on Saturday night. Charley Potts finished first in the Late Model feature while his dad, Gary, was a close second. Todd Bowersox became the 12th different winner in the street stock main event. No information was provided on what is being featured at Silver Spring Speedway this Saturday. SORRY!
    AT LANCO SPEEDWAY in Brickerville, PA, the Saturday night events were won by Andy Martin (250cc Two-Stroke), Mike Rutherford (125cc), Curtis Miller (Sportsman) and Richard Fox (250cc Four Stroke). The is no racing this Saturday, August 3rd but action returns to the speedway on August 10th with the running of the Scott Reider Auto Parts Night. Four big features for the micro sprints top the show. Racing starts at 6 p.m.
    AT HAGERSTOWN, MD SPEEDWAY rain washed out the Saturday night show. Saturday night August 3rd will feature "Bargain Night" with four features being presented for just $9.00. The ITSI late models, Hoosier Tires late model sportsman, Ernie's Salvage Yard Pure Stocks and a 30-lap Enduro will be the attraction with racing starting at 7 p.m.
    NASCAR Winston Cup racer Casey Atwood won the Pepsi ARCA 200 at Pocono Raceway on Saturday.
    Two days of sports car racing, under the sanction of the SCCA, is on the schedule at Pocono this weekend, August 3-4.
Ernie Saxton can be reached at Esaxton144@aol.com.