NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Dave Sapienza will take an extended leave from action due to an injury sustained in crash following the conclusion of the Jersey Shore 150 Saturday at Wall Stadium in Wall, N.J.
The day after the wreck Sapienza expected to be ready for the next series event on June 1 at Seekonk (Mass.) Speedway. After visiting with a doctor this week Sapienza realized the lower back injury he sustained would force him to step away from the car for the time being.
“It sucks,” Sapienza told RaceDayCT Wednesday morning. “Plus it [expletive] hurts.”
Sapienza will have Burt Myers driving his for the June 5 Whelen Modified Tour event at Thompson Speedway. The team will skip the Seekonk event on June 1.
“After [Thompson on June 5] it will probably be nothing. If anything it’s going to be a couple months at least. Because that’s the only time [Myers was] available. … I don’t know if there’s anybody else I really want to put in the car.”
A wreck filled night at Wall Stadium came to a crashing end for Sapienza after taking the checkered flag.
A full-contact battle for third place over the closing lap between Sapienza and Timmy Catalano ended with the pair crashing across the finish line and Sapienza’s car then hitting head-on with an infield wall just past the start/finish line on the inside of the track.
“I had no idea it was like that,” Sapienza told RaceDayCT on Sunday. “I hit the butt end of it. I would have rather have hit a couple of water buckets.”
Woody Pitkat won the event, which was marred by numerous major wrecks and a multitude of trashed car.
With Catalano and Sapienza fighting for the position coming to the checkered flag, Rob Summers tried to pass the two, but he got clipped by Sapienza’s car and crossed the line sideways in third place. Catalano was scored in fourth and Sapienza fifth.
Get well soon.
Well this sucks.
He was just finding his groove.
Get well!
Ge back when you are!
When you get to be 2035 Dave Sapienze you can thank 2019 Dave Sapienza for making the right decision.
Although it sucks right now, Dave made the right decision. Back injuries are slow to heal, but if left unattended can lead to even worse problems. Taking the time to properly heal now is something he’ll benefit from 20 years from now. Even though it still sucks. As for a fill in, how about MCJ the kid is talented, and easy on equipment. Get Well Soon Dave, but take the time you need, there will still be racing when your ready.
A really violent wreck. A bit like Michael Waltrip’s head-on with the wall at Bristol in 1990. So sorry that you got injured Dave. You’ve got to heal but it still must be tough to get out of your race car for the summer.