BOAT & TRAILER RACE

Next up was the boat and trailer race!!  A very fun concept, I had heard about these races getting pretty crazy at other events and couldn't wait for this one to get going.  Not long after the start of the race, pieces of trailers were flying everywhere.  It was hard to keep up with who was leading, but after some spectacular mishaps, in the end #50 was victorious.  Not without controversy though, as the crowd believed another guy had won the event, and after a few minutes waiting for an official ruling, #50 was allowed to keep the win.  For all you I-70 fans though, Brad got together with the drivers and a rematch is to be taking place!!

DR. DANGER'S DEATH-DEFYING JUMP

After the completion of the trailer race, the track crew began setting up for Dr. Danger's third and final stunt of the evening.  For you monster truck fans, you may remember seeing Brian Carson jump into a stack of cars, "the steel wall", I believe it was called.  Dr. Danger would be attempting a similar stunt this evening, trying to jump over two minivans and a station wagon.  There was one major difference however...Dr. Danger would be attempting this stunt in a completely STOCK early 90's Ford Taurus.  Seriously, this car looked like it just came off the back part of a car dealership's lot.  The car was not equipped with any kind of special safety features, as you may remember, Brian Carson would use a special car with rollbars, racing seat, and safety harnesses.  Dr. Danger would attempt this stunt with only the regular seatbelt, just like you and I would use on the highway.  Of course, you and I are not jumping into a wall of cars.

You know how sometimes you get a feeling that something bad is going to happen?  I could definitely sense that as we watched Dr. Danger head down into turn one coming around the track to build up speed.  From our perch in the starter's stand, the stunt was to be taking place directly in front of us, and with the pyrotechnics set to go off when Dr. Danger hit the ramp, I was a little nervous about being too close to the action.  As Dr. Danger roared down the frontstretch, taking the ramp at full speed, there was a giant explosion as the pyrotechnics went off, and the heat from the blast sent me ducking for cover.  At the last second of the video footage however, you can see Dr. Danger smashing into the top van, and the rest is just the aftermath.

As I popped back up after the initial shock of the blast, the frontstretch was littered with debris and there was the Ford Taurus, upside down on the asphalt with the roof completely pancaked to the ground.  My friend Eric Anderson, who attended the event with me looked at me and said, "I think we may have just watched a man die."  Thankfully that would not be the case, but gazing upon the wreckage was absolutely bone chilling.  The safety crews were on the scene quickly, and work to extricate Dr. Danger from the car began.  A long delay would ensue as safety workers and EMT officials attempted to remove Dr. Danger from the wreckage, and the crowd (ourselves included) could only wait and pray that Dr. Danger would be ok.

Finally the crews were able to bring Dr. Danger out of the car and onto a stretcher.  According to the track announcer, Dr. Danger was conscious and alert, and was able to move his hands and feet.  This was incredibly good news, and the entire crowd breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.  The track announcer reported that the first words Dr. Danger said to the rescue workers were, "Man, what a rush!!"  It would be decided that, for precautionary measures, Dr. Danger would be airlifted to a Kansas City hospital instead of being taken to the local hospital.  The helicopter landed down in Turn 1, and Dr. Danger was on his way to get the best care possible.  I am very happy to report that although Dr. Danger was injured including several broken bones, he has been released as of this coverage, and is expected to make a speedy, full recovery.  Please visit the I-70 Speedway website for further updates and a message to the fans from Dr. Danger.

Seeing the twisted remains of that Ford Taurus truly is a chilling sight, and we can only thank the good Lord that Dr. Danger was not more seriously injured in this wreck.  THE MONSTER BLOG continues to extended our thoughts and prayers to Dr. Danger and his family for a very quick, very speedy recovery!!

The track crews worked quickly to clean up the track, and it was time for the Final Round of Monster Truck Freestyle!!

THE FINAL ROUND