A dirt-track driver in the USA has been arrested and banned from racing for two years after two crew members were injured when he rammed a rival parked in the pits.
Fans in the stands and a drone captured the moment Greg Martin rammed his car into that of rival Matt Henderson at the I-75 Speedway in Tennessee.
Although the incident was relatively low-speed, two crew members who were crouched working on the car were sent flying.
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One was taken to hospital, where eight staples were used to close a gash on his head, as well as bruised ribs. The other was treated by trackside medical officials for minor injuries.
The two cars had earlier made contact on the track, which resulted in a heavily damaged car for Henderson, while Martin spun out of contention.
Greg Martin (blue car) was arrested and charged with aggravated assault after he used his car to ram a rival’s after an on-track incident in the USA. X
Martin, 51, was immediately disqualified from the rest of the race meeting. He was later arrested by local police and charged with aggravated assault. Following a hearing, the series also banned him from competing for two years.
According to local media, Martin claimed in the police report the brake lines had been cut in the earlier collision with Henderson. Trackside officials said there was no brake fluid on the ground or on the car.
“Driver and crew safety is of the utmost importance to the (series),” officials said in a statement.
“All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that protects the safety of competitors, crews, officials, fans and partner tracks”, and they would “continue to uphold the standards of conduct expected at all series events”.
Greg Martin (blue car) was arrested and charged with aggravated assault after he used his car to ram a rival’s after an on-track incident in the USA. X
Henderson later took to Facebook to take full responsibility for the on-track incident, explaining he’d lost control over bumps, which sent him into Martin.
“We had ran door-to-door for three laps … we hit as I bounced through the holes and it wrecked us. I hate that – would rather have just got me,” he said.
“If Greg wanted to fight me or tell me how unhappy he was or anything to that degree I’d have understood it. No one wants that. So I get it.
“When he chose to use his race car to hit mine in a crowded pit area and injured people, that I can’t understand. That is not something that should ever happen.
“I apologise to my team for everything that happened. I hate mine and Greg’s car was torn up in the on track stuff and then further once he rammed them together in the pit area.
“I am not asking for support of the on track incident or anyone to think that I blame him for that. I bottomed out and caused that accident. The running through the pits speeding to hit a car and assaulting guys with race cars has to be a hard line in the sand that we don’t allow to get crossed.
“Thankfully no one was injured far worse. Stuff like that can head a completely different direction (if) we mean for it to or not.”
A woman claiming to be the mother of one of the crew members took to Facebook to reveal the full extent of his injuries.
“Luckily (he) is OK, after CT of head and chest, everything internally checked out OK,” she said.
“He has bruised ribs and eight staples in his head but it could have been much worse.
“I know racing, but to ram a car with crew members working on it proves you are not emotionally mature enough for the sport. This could have been much worse!”
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