N.C. governor not hurt in crash at Lowe's Motor Speedway
By Associated Press, 5/9/2003 13:42
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) Gov. Mike Easley slammed into a speedway wall at 120 mph during a charity event Friday, leaving him embarrassed but unhurt.
Easley, driving the car of Winston Cup driver Jimmie Johnson, hit an inside retaining wall that is protected with plastic foam to absorb impact. He also was wearing a neck and head restraint system that NASCAR made mandatory after Dale Earnhardt's fatal wreck in 2001.
''I am fine. They strapped me in good and tight,'' Easley said.
''It was fun for about four or five laps, but the last part wasn't too good. I was pushing and the car was running tight and it got loose on me and I wrecked.''
About an hour after the crash, Easley was driving again, this time in Terry Labonte's car.
Speedway President H.A. ''Humpy'' Wheeler estimated the governor was averaging 165.8 mph during his laps on the track but was driving 120 mph when he crashed.
''You're not a real race car driver until you hit the wall,'' Wheeler said.
The North Carolina governor was helping to raise money at Lowe's Motor Speedway for Communities in Schools, an anti-dropout program. Sponsors were to donate money for each lap that Easley took at 160 mph.
He also plans to run a couple of laps next week before The Winston, an all-star race, as part of a campaign to keep the event from moving next year.
Easley said the back of the car ''spun out like you do on ice and you didn't have enough room to turn out,'' causing the back to hit the wall. After the wreck at Turn 2, Easley stood by the car joking with his staff and track officials. He even autographed the crumpled car before it was towed away.
Track spokesman Jerry Gappens said Easley was examined by the speedway's medical staff and was fine.
''Just a bruised ego right now,'' Gappens said.
