|
|
03-16-2004
Crawford Takes Wild Ride in Atlanta
 |
|
High Sierra Photo | The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers were expected to put on a show during the running of the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway and they didn’t disappoint. Action could be found in every corner of the 1.5-mile speedway from the drop of the green to the wave of the checker. For Rick Crawford driver of the #14 Circle Bar Ford F-150 the action ended early after a wild crash.
Crawford and crew were quick during the Series first practice session moving to third on the board, running laps faster than their qualifying attempts at the Daytona International Speedway. The team slipped during qualifying as Crawford landed 13th on the grid after battling the wind and a loose chassis. The misfortune continued for the team in “happy hour” as an engine expired late Friday afternoon.
The motor change dropped Crawford to the rear of the field where he quickly showed that the demons of his patriotically inspired Ford had disappeared. Crawford raced from the rear of the field to twelfth by lap 45 when he clipped the sliding truck of Tina Gordon sending him spinning down the Atlanta backstretch. Crawford’s truck continued down the track and veered into the turn three wall before coming to rest outside the entrance to pit road. Crawford was transported to the Atlanta Medical Center where x-rays showed a fracture in his left foot.
Crawford remains in high spirits as he now begins the rehabilitation process. The injury will not have any effect on the team’s bid for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. Crawford now looks forward to his return behind the wheel of the #14 Circle Bar Ford F-150 at the Martinsville Speedway on April 17th.
More Racing News...
|
|
|
|
Discuss