Austin Dillon was propelled airborne into the catch fence during Sunday Night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. The #11 car spun and got into Dillon who was ramped into the air by another competitor. The Austin Dillon Daytona crash has since gone viral for all of the wrong reasons, bringing safety in NASCAR into worldwide media attention.
“It just happened so quick,” Dillon said. “I knew it was going to be big.”
Dillon’s car finally came to a stop on it’s lid and was torn up to the point where the radio cord had been ripped out of the device.
Dillon could hear his family asking him, “talk to me bud, talk to me” and he could not tell them he was ok over the radio.
The first crew member to get to the car was wearing a GEICO suit, being a member of the #13 pit crew. Dillon saw him and actually thought he was Casey Mears. Dillon said he was thinking, “How did Casey get out of his car so quickly.”
Dillon relayed the message to the pit crew of course saying he was ok, and came out of the car to a roaring applause. He then made a tribute to one of his heroes, Lane Frost while waving to the crowd.
Dillon traveled to the infield care center and took calls from his family. At first he did not know if he would want to watch video of the incident, however, after hearing his brother upset on the phone, he knew he had to see it.
The crash has brought up many views on NASCAR Safety including comments from Ryan Newman saying NASCAR has not done anything to help safety.
“I have to make my own opinion… There are other drivers who have gone through wrecks similar, but I’m sitting here today. I have a sore groin, a sore tailbone, and that’s it.”
Main image:
