The 2024 Chili Bowl Nationals week is underway and there will be a lot of racing action going on until January 13. The midget racing event is one of the most talked about motorsports events in the country. However, if last year is anything to go by, safety will be a big talking point. One of the competition’s insiders even expressed his concerns, after a horror flip took place last year’s edition. Despite slamming the teams involved, he raised a valid point.

2023 Chili Bowl Nationals horror flip still sits fresh in everyone’s minds

The midget racing event is always eagerly anticipated by fans but things do not always end on a happy note for everyone. That was the case in 2023 with Ashton Torgerson. As he was battling Kevin Thomas Jr for P7, Torgerson lost control of his car and it flipped around a few times. The scary part was that the driver’s belt seemed to have come undone, and he landed on his head with the full weight of the car on him once.

Everyone present at the venue was utterly shocked. How can something so basic as a belt not be looked at properly in an event as big as the Chili Bowl Nationals? Well, National Sprint Car Hall of Famer Emmett Hahn just could not get that moment out of his head as he recently spoke to Simpson Race Products, the belt manufacturer, over safety concerns. According to the veteran, the team was at fault for what happened to Torgerson. The news was broken by eminent NASCAR journalist Matt Weaver on Twitter.

“Emmett Hahn says he feels very strongly after talking to Simpson Race Products that what happened to Ashton Torgerson last year was ultimately team oversight, belts not being secured properly. “If racers can’t secure their belts, they shouldn’t be here,” he tweeted.

After the 2023 crash, Torgerson was rushed to the hospital as it was reported that he was bleeding from his brain. However, he has pulled off an outstanding comeback story within the space of a year. The 16-year-old emerged victorious A-Class in the recently concluded Tulsa Shootout.

Read More – NASCAR News: Kyle Larson Reveals Harsh Reality of Rapidly Declining Cup Series Driver Payouts

After life-threatening incident, teenage driver makes comeback to win at Tulsa Shootout

Trending

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Stepmother Follows Through on the Grudge, With His Legacy Also Hanging in the Balance

May 16, 2024 04:49 AM EDT

Rick Hendrick & Co.’s Partnership with Tarnished Sponsor Triggers Bitter Outburst- “F*CK Liberty”

May 17, 2024 04:29 PM EDT

5’8” Noah Gragson Shuts Down Carson Hocevar’s “Short” All-Star Gibe in 3-Words

May 17, 2024 10:13 AM EDT

‘P*ssed Off’ Noah Gragson Calls Out NASCAR’s All-Star Race’s Only Aspect That Leaves Entire Teams Out to Dry

May 17, 2024 12:54 PM EDT

Ford’s Ongoing SHR Auditions Forces 7-Word Warning From Kevin Harvick

May 15, 2024 04:28 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NASCAR stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

It was his young career’s first Golden Driller after he was crowned the Winged A Class champion at the 39th Tulsa Shootout. The 16-year-old had qualified well and was on the front row at the start of the race. So all that was needed was a clean start and he could just stick at the front of the pack and hold his advantage. That’s exactly what he did. The confident teenager later divulged details about his win.

“I couldn’t do it without my whole team and felt really good all weekend, in every class, honestly. I ran the main earlier and blew up, kinda frustrated on that but I had to clear my head. I knew I started front row. I knew if I could just get out front I could run clean laps and that’s what I did,” a confident Torgerson said as per FloRacing.

Everyone likes a good comeback story and Ashton Torgerson’s is as good as any. What he suffered at the Chili Bowl Nationals last year was nothing short of life-threatening. However, the 16-year-old picked himself up and won his maiden Golden Driller in the Tulsa Shootout. There’s no doubt that this man is a fighter.

WATCH THIS STORY: Sarcastic Kyle Larson takes a dig at Clint Bowyer’s infamous personality