TEENAGE Warrnambool driver Danny Carroll has emerged unscathed from the wreck of his burning micro sprintcar after a spectacular crash in America.
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Danny, 15, was racing at California’s Delta Speedway on Saturday night when a deflated right rear tyre caused him to flip.
His car erupted in flames, sparking crash crew members to drag him from the twisted mesh of metal and mechanics.
He was running mid-field in the A main of the Turkey Bowl, one of the biggest events on the Delta Speedway calendar.
A post on the Danny Carroll Motorsport Facebook page said Carroll was caught up in an earlier crash which caused damage to the tyre.
“Started 19th, car was fast and Danny was sailing around the top, had passed about five or six cars,” the post said. “Then trying to avoid a crash (he) flipped. Car was OK, restarted at the back.
“Ten laps to go, right rear was losing air (from previous crash) and the car flipped violently into the fence and back out onto the track.
“Then the car went up in flames. The crash crew evacuated Danny very quickly by dragging him out of the car.
“Danny was OK, breathed in flames and fumes and was a little rattled but OK. Car suffered a lot of damage but the driver was safe.”
The crash came after a dramatic build-up, which included Danny suffering brake failure during hot laps before the A main.
The team had 45 minutes to repair the brakes and damage to the front and rear of the car, only just making it to the start line.
Danny’s brother Will Carroll said his sibling shifted to Roseville, California, with their father Damien in August.
He had already celebrated a feature win earlier this month and was showing form at the tail end of the season.
“I talked to him on Facebook this morning and he said he was fine, just a little bit sore,” Will said.
“I’m pretty sure it was his last race for the season.”
Will kicked off his own sprintcar season at Avalon on Saturday night, placing eighth in the Sprintcar Jackpot.
He started his heat in position 16 but sneaked into the last-chance qualifier and the preliminary A main.
A solid drive in the pole shootout lifted him from 11th to seventh for the A main, ultimately running eighth.
