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That's Racin'
By JIM UTTER
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - NASCAR officials on Thursday advised drivers to listen to their spotters and be aware of activity on the track as they leave pit road under caution.
The warning was issued by managing event director David Hoots during Thursday's prerace drivers meeting at Daytona International Speedway, site of the Gatorade 125-mile qualifying races.
On Sunday, a track safety worker, Roy H. Weaver, was killed in an incident in an IPower Dash series race. Weaver, 44, was picking up debris on the 2.5-mile Daytona speedway when he was struck and killed by a race car driven by Ray Paprota.
"If you are coming off pit road under caution and trying to catch up with the rest of the pack, make sure you are talking to your spotter completely around the race track. Let him advise you of anything out there on the race track," Hoots told the drivers.
"If you have no reason to catch up early, then take the time to do so. With one lap to go, you still have 2½ miles to catch up to the field on this race track. Take your time and do it very slowly and very cautiously."
Daytona Beach police are still investigating the incident but have made a preliminary judgment, terming the death accidental.
Paprota, 41, is a paraplegic who operates his race car with hand controls that allow him to accelerate and brake the car while steering. Paprota was coming off pit road and accelerating to catch up to the rest of the field when he struck Weaver.
A memorial service was held Wednesday for Weaver.
By JIM UTTER
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - NASCAR officials on Thursday advised drivers to listen to their spotters and be aware of activity on the track as they leave pit road under caution.
The warning was issued by managing event director David Hoots during Thursday's prerace drivers meeting at Daytona International Speedway, site of the Gatorade 125-mile qualifying races.
On Sunday, a track safety worker, Roy H. Weaver, was killed in an incident in an IPower Dash series race. Weaver, 44, was picking up debris on the 2.5-mile Daytona speedway when he was struck and killed by a race car driven by Ray Paprota.
"If you are coming off pit road under caution and trying to catch up with the rest of the pack, make sure you are talking to your spotter completely around the race track. Let him advise you of anything out there on the race track," Hoots told the drivers.
"If you have no reason to catch up early, then take the time to do so. With one lap to go, you still have 2½ miles to catch up to the field on this race track. Take your time and do it very slowly and very cautiously."
Daytona Beach police are still investigating the incident but have made a preliminary judgment, terming the death accidental.
Paprota, 41, is a paraplegic who operates his race car with hand controls that allow him to accelerate and brake the car while steering. Paprota was coming off pit road and accelerating to catch up to the rest of the field when he struck Weaver.
A memorial service was held Wednesday for Weaver.