All drivers walked away unhurt from a wild crash during a sprint car event at Western Springs Speedway last night which involved New Zealand Nascar driver and Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen.
Multiple cars were involved in the crash, which began when Kiwi driver Michael Pickens, in car 54, andAmerican Jonathan Allard tangled at the front of the field. Allard’s No 4 car flipped in the air and rolled several times before resting on the fence. Pickens' car caught air and hit the fence before resting on its side.
Allard then got out of his car and approached Pickens, unhappy with the manoeuvre which led to the crash.
Van Gisbergen’s No 97 car ended up getting pinned against the wall at the end of the crash while another car was also left on its side. Dean Cooper (2) and Zachary Sokol (47) were also involved in the pileup.
The race restarted after the crash with Kiwi Jamie Duff winning the 25-lap event, which was a support race following the Midget World Series.
Safety teams in fluorescent yellow vests can be seen in the video running towards the crashed cars while a tow truck operator can be seen checking on the drivers.
Pickens was racing for the second time of the night at Western Springs after also featuring in the Midget World Series 50-lap race, won by American Buddy Kofoid. Pickens finished second as Kofoid took out the race and the series.
It’s the second crash for Van Gisbergen in the past week, after being sent skyward during the Boxing Day race at Baypark Speedway in Tauranga. He bounced back with a third in the Waikaraka Park event.
