The Ron Yuhas Jr. piloted KLM Motorsports car in Whelen Modified Tour action (Photo: Corey Sipkin for NASCAR)
KLM Motorsports team owner Mike Murphy confirmed to RaceDayCT Tuesday evening that his team will skip this weekend’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour NAPA Auto Parts Fall Final 150 Sunday at Stafford Motor Speedway.
KLM Motorsports driver Ron Yuhas Jr. of Groton remained in a Concord, N.H. hospital on Tuesday recovering from undisclosed injuries sustained in a scary accident during the Whelen Modified Tour F.W. Webb 100 Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
“It’s just bad because we aren’t just car owner and driver, we’re the best of buddies,” Murphy said. “This is tough on him, this tough on everbody, tough on the whole team.”
Murphy said the team looked at the possibility of getting a replacement driver for Yuhas for Sunday’s race at Stafford but then decided against it.
“We’re not going this weekend,” Murphy said. “We thought about it. We’ve got the backup car, but there’s no penny. We’re going to skip this weekend, which is tough because we all enjoy this so much.
Murphy said that he hopes the team will back in action for the series season final at Thompson Speedway on Oct. 19.
“Maybe Thompson we’ll be back,” Murphy said. “If Ron is ok to come back then. … He’s over the worst of it I think. I’m hoping he’ll be home Thursday or Friday.”
Yuhas is currently 14th in the Whelen Modified Tour standings with three top-10 finishes in 11 starts this season.
Yuhas was involved in a brutal crash just after the first attempt at a green-white-checkered finish during the F.W. Webb 100. Yuhas was running in 17th place on the track when the accident took place in the turn two area of the 1.058-mile oval.
A chain reaction of cars slowing through the field sent Yuhas’ car over the car driven by Timmy Solomito. After going over Solomito, Yuhas’ car slammed the wall head on, with the rear of the car flying upward causing the nose of the car to do a pirouette spin on the track before flipping onto its roof.
Track workers had to flip the car back right before extricating Yuhas from the car. Yuhas exited the car under his own power but was immediately placed on a stretcher by medical personnel at the scene of the crash.
One thing I have noticed about these containment seats is that it’s extremely hard or impossible for a driver to get out of when they are upside down in them. I think that is a blind spot with those seats that should be corrected ASAP. Having to flip cars back over to extricate the driver not only burns valuable time, but it potentially subjects an already injured driver to more stress & injury.
I must say. That tour division is a dog eat dog mentality between the owners and drivers. Most teams seem to be changing drivers more often than I change my underwear. But, that is one team that will be long term. I commend their unity! They always seem to have a strong bond,
If he can’t go, we won’t go! That is one respectful team, can’t take that away. Hoping Ronnie has a speedy recovery.
Andy, It’s very likely not an issue with the seat at all. There have been many times that I have seen them flip a car over while the driver is still strapped in, not only to prevent him from landing on his head when he unstraps and causing neck injury which HAS happened and unfortunately resulted in death in just the past couple of years. Also, if a driver is injured such as Ron was, they do normally flip the car back over with the driver still in the car so they can remove that driver straight up through the top so not to cause further injury. I was not at the track, but did notice in pictures that Ron’s roof was removed from his car. I can only imagine that he got out straight through the top. I also heard that the force of the impact caused the top hoop of the cage to crush down which would make it nearly impossible to get out of the car no matter what seat is in it while upside down.
Can you be extricated from the car AND exit the car under your own power as the article says?