Rich Pallai Jr. (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
STAFFORD – NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour practice at Stafford Motor Speedway Friday afternoon was delayed for nearly an hour after a massive crash by driver Rich Pallai Jr.
Reports from the pits indicate that the throttle stuck on Pallai’s car as he went down the backstretch.
Pallai’s car hit the wall and the car bounced and turned away after contact with the guardrail in turn three, but much of the front end of his car was left stuck in the wall.
Pallai was practicing in preparation for tonight’s TSI Harley-Davidson 125 at Stafford Speedway.
Pallai walked slowly under his own power to a waiting ambulance and was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.
According to NASCAR officials, Pallai was treated and released from a local hospital by about 4:40 p.m. The accident happened at about 3:30 p.m.
Pallai, of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., is a part-time competitor on the Whelen Modified Tour and former regular at Stafford Speedway. What remained of Pallai’s car after the wreck was taken by NASCAR for inspection.
This whole stuck throttle stuff has been around for a long time and nobody can seem to put it to rest. We’ve go some pretty smart people in Modified racing as well down in NASCARS R&D Offices but yet they can’t stop it from happening. I know three are devices that are supposed to stop it from happening but I guess they either are not being used or not very effective. Whatever the case THIS SORT OF STUFF SHOULD NEVER EVER EVER HAPPEN!!!!!
Ditto!
My suggestion is that everyone run at least the Coleman brake pressure switch, This device cuts out the ignition under panic breaking. These switches are adjustable and also available as a grounding type for magnetos. This is not just for Tour teams; if you have a loved one who races, make sure your loved one has AT LEAST a brake cut-out switch on their car. Nothing is a perfect solution. This is an inexpensive option that should be on every race car.