Anatomy of a NASCAR wreck

[Tractors4u]

Usually if I have a camera I am pointing it the wrong way when something happens or if it happens right in front of me I don't have my camera. This time I had my new Rebel digital and a 300mm lens so here it goes. Elliot Sadler was making a last second run with his car that had been over heating for most of the race. I heard his engine builder tell him to get all he could on the last lap and not worry about the engine. He got more than he bargained for. In the first picture he has gotten turned around and when he hit the grass he picks up speed. Wind gets under the car and the spoiler lifting the rear end. Notice the roof flaps up. These work great to straighten the car out in the event of spin, but they don't do much when the car is off of the ground.

 

[Tractors4u]

Too late now, all four wheels are off the ground. Hang on Elliot!

 

[Tractors4u]

Why did it get quiet all of the sudden?

 

[Tractors4u]

Wow it is noisey again! There goes the paint job!

 

[Tractors4u]

Wheels on the ground, that's right, right?

 

[bczoom]

Great pics Brent!!!

Although Elliott lost 2 spots in the standings (a lot due to his acrobatic stunt), I would have given him back those spots due to the way he recovered and finished the race after that incident.

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

Brent........My son & I caught the last 10 laps on TV and saw the wreck..............Must have been an awesome event to see in person..........Is Elliot getting used to doing that ?? seems like not that long since he did the same thing........I guess everyone has his own driving style for the end of the race !! Tom

 

[markie61]

Wow /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif!

I saw that on the highlights reel, too. Your pics are actually closer. Something else...

I'll say it again: Wow /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif!

Mark

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Is Elliot getting used to doing that ?? seems like not that long since he did the same thing........I guess everyone has his own driving style for the end of the race !! Tom )</font>

Tom, I think he's just trying to keep up with Ryan Newman's "flight" skills. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif M. Waltrip tried it also but he keeps coming out of it upside down and is too tall to get out of his car. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Tractors4u]

Last year I was there when Elliot tried to set the record for flips at Talladega. He rolled it on the back stretch going into turn 3. I could see the tail end of the car up in the air when he started. Here is the pic from last year.

PS, I didn't take this one.