DRAYTON VALLEY, AB. – Sunday evening at Rapid Fire Motorsports Park, race fans and race teams were witness to one of the wildest crashes the NPP Late Model Series has ever seen.  While taking the green flag to start the 25 lap Feature event, Spruce Grove’s Bruce Broughton lost second gear going down the front straightaway.  “I feel bad, I tried to get out of the way but there was no where to go.  It was the start of the race and I’m in the middle of the pack.”  Broughton’s car began slowing dramatically.  Several cars did see that Broughton was in trouble and scrambled to get out of the way.  Unfortunately some could not.  “I heard something break on Broughton’s car when he went past me, “exclaimed three time NPP Series champion Trevor Emond, who was not involved in the melee, “when I saw his car move funny I though to my self this could get ugly.”

CHRIS SKELTON’S CAR CAME TO REST ON TOP OF GERRY EMOND’S MACHINE

A chain reaction crash ended up involving 4 race cars with spectacular results.  All eyes were on the #23 machine of Gerry Emond and the #46 of Chris Skelton.  “We came to a sudden stop and here I had a car sitting on top of my roof, “exclaims Emond, “I was watching that fuel cell fall out of the #46 machine as we were still moving and was wondering where is this thing going!”

GERRY EMOND UNDER THE RACE CAR OF CHRIS SKELTON

“It was a wild ride,” says Skelton, “I’ve had some pretty hard hits when I’ve raced my pavement Late Model but this one ranks right up there.”  Both drivers walked away from the incident. “ At least with the safety equipment we have today everything did what it needed to do to protect myself and Chris.”  Skelton’s car was done for the night.  Emond’s crew did an amazing patch job on the battered number twenty three machine.  Gerry was able to return to the race and managed to finish the feature in tenth place.  “I lost a little ground in the point standings,” adds a disappointed Emond, “but I’m still in the chase!”