June 10th, 2015 at U.S. 13 Dragway started another night of points series racing. In the second round of practice runs, Carlton Mason of Pocomoke, Md., was knocked unconscious after his 1970 Chevelle hit the right side guardrail roughly 100 feet out from the starting line. The Chevelle started picking up speed as the driver was unable to control his car hitting the left side guardrail where the Chevelle ran up sideways on the wall then forcing his car to cross the track running at a fast speed, and hit the right side guardrail head on. After that being his third hit, the car continued to pick up speed from the stuck throttle causing him to veer off towards a parked racecar on the return road. Vernon Russell, of Dover, Del., had just stepped out of his 1981 Camaro racecar when he saw Mason’s car coming in his direction. Russell made a quick dash for safety before Mason’s car struck Russel’s Camaro. The impact was so strong it spun Russell’s car around into the woods, steering Masons car in between two trees.
Russell was fortunate enough to be out of the car where he could take cover without injury. Mason was removed from the car once pulled from the woods and air lifted to Christiana Hospital. Mason suffers from a collapsed lung, broken ribs, broken arm and several other injuries, but is expected to make a full recovery.
U.S. 13 Dragway and their crew were on the scene in a matter of seconds after the accident happened. Charles Cathell, Owner of Delaware Motorsports Complex, has a very talented team helping on a week to week basis with prepping the track for each race. Their skills along with the Delmar Fire Department, Gumboro Fire Department, SCEMS, Delmar Police and Delaware State troopers were able to work together to get the drivers the help they needed quickly.
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As far as safety equipment goes, each driver is fully equipped with safety gear to help protect them from the worst when accidents happen. The drivers involved in this accident are required to wear jacket and pants meeting the SFI Spec rating of 3.2A/15, gloves meeting SFI Spec 3.3/5, and shoes or boots meeting SFI Spec 3.3/5 are mandatory in their class. Along with a full faced helmet, neck restraint system/device or neck collar, and a three-inch driver restraint system meeting SFI Spec 16.1 mandatory in any car running 11.49 or quicker in the quarter mile (meets drivers body in 5 places and are certified every two years).
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mason family at this time as they recoup from what could have been worse if it wasn’t for the safety crew and equipment.
