NASCAR legend faces surgery after crash
Pearson suffers multiple fractures; Glotzbach in good condition after wreck at Bristol
Saturday, Mar. 20, 2010
AP
Bristol Motor Speedway emergency personnel take Larry Pearson to an awaiting ambulance following a hard crash in turn 2 in the Scotts EZ Seed Showdown Saturday night. Pearson was taken outside the track and airlifted to a local hospital. The race feature 12 former NASCAR drivers in a 35 lap shootout. (AP Photo/Bristol Herald Courier,Earl Neikirk)
AP
Charlie Glotzbach is helped to an ambulance after a hard crash with Larry Pearson during the Scotts EZ Seed Showdown Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. Glotzbach was taken to a local hospital by ambulance, while Pearson was airlifted to the hospital. (AP Photo/Bristol Herald Courier,Andre Teague)
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Two drivers taking part in an exhibition race among NASCAR legends at Bristol Motor Speedway were injured in a violent wreck and transported to a local hospital Saturday afternoon.
Larry Pearson's family confirmed through track officials that the driver had a compound fracture of his left ankle, a fractured pelvis and a fractured right hand. He was to have surgery late Saturday.
According to BMS officials, Charlie Glotzbach is listed in good condition.
On Lap 30 of the 35-lap event, Pearson spun and hit the outside wall. As his car drifted back down the track, it was T-boned on the driver's side by Glotzbach.
Glotzbach was able to get out of his car, which briefly caught fire, and was escorted into ambulance.
Safety workers spent several minutes attempting to extricate Pearson, who was knocked unconscious, from his car. Eventually works tore off most of the driver compartment to get to Pearson.
According to an ESPN report, Pearson was responsive when loaded on an ambulance. He was taken to a waiting helicopter, where he was airlifted to Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, according to BMS officials.
Pearson, 56, is the son of three-time Cup champion David Pearson and twice won the championship of what is now known as the Nationwide Series.
Glotzbach, 71, is a former Cup and Automobile Racing Club America series driver. In 1971, Glotzbach won the caution-free Volunteer 500 at Bristol, in a record pace that still stands (averaging 101.074 mph in two hours, 38 minutes).
The cars used for legends race at Bristol were from the USAR Pro Cup Series (formerly known as the Hooters Pro Cup).
“It’s our choice to race,” said Rick Wilson, the winner of the event. “You get older and they say you’re reaction time goes down, then you see a 19-year old do something on the track and say, ‘What is he doing?’
“Nobody makes anybody get these race cars. I love it. It’s a chance you take.”
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