Mark Martin Dodges Disaster at Michigan

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

August 19, 2012 1:10 pm UTC No Comments

Oohs and Oh No’s in the Michigan Speedway media center are not commonplace. When they happen, if you weren’t watching the race, your eyes snap to the TVs. This time was scary.

Mark Martin’s pole-sitting #55 spinning down off turn four, sliding into the entrance of pit lane. Martin kept it off the wall until the car impaled on the end of the pit wall that marks the entrance end of the pits. Miraculously, the wall hit behind Martin’s seat area and not at the door. Had the car hit the wall earlier, the scattering gaggle of NASCAR officials, photographers and pit toads might have taken casualties. If the car hits that piece of wall two feet closer to the front of the car, Mark may not have walked away.

Just when you think that NASCAR has all the dangerous places at racetracks protected with SAFER barriers and such, a race car finds a soft spot. Better fix this one.

Photo credit: BethAnne Heisler – OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Mark Martin, Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR, Sprint Cup Series

Tagged with: MIS, Pure Michigan 400, SAFER barriers

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