Final lap shocker at Daytona

As Regan Smith was speeding toward the checkered flag with a narrow lead at the Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 on Feb. 23 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., I do not think anybody could have predicted the outcome from that point.

Smith tried to block Brad Keselowski to get the win.

Cars began wrecking around Smith and Keselowski as Tony Stewart broke free for the win. Kyle Larson hit Keselowski, sending Larson’s car into the air and into the fence that separates the track from the grandstands.

The debris injured at least 30 NASCAR fans, but no fatalities were reported.

But I was blown away by that final wreck in the race.

I had never seen a car with its entire front end gone like that. It still shocks me that that is even possible. Larson’s engine sat on the edge of the grandstands while crews eventually hoisted it out.

One part of the fence was destroyed and crews did a great job repairing it before the next day for the Daytona 500.

Tony Stewart, the winner of the race, appeared to be a bit shaken after the race, which was understandable, and did not seem to be in the mood to celebrate. He and the rest of the drivers who were interviewed after the race expressed their concern for the fans and the drivers who were involved in the crash.

But was the wreck good or bad for NASCAR?

Everybody, including me, hopes that the fans that were injured from the crash emerge from their injuries healthy.

I am sure many people will be upset because they believe that NASCAR did not take the necessary steps to prevent accidents like this one.

On the other hand, many NASCAR fans live for wrecks, and the one that occurred a little more than a week ago was one of the most eye-catching that I have ever seen.

I’m just happy that neither the drivers nor the fans were killed.

I couldn’t even imagine what was going through Larson’s mind when his vehicle was flying through the air and into the stands.

Or what was going through his mind when his car came to a stop and he climbed out only to see about half of his car was missing?

Because the wreck came on the final lap, it shows the determination and will to win by the drivers. Smith might have been able to finish second, but knowing the race was on the sacred grounds of Daytona, he went for the win.

I don’t blame NASCAR for the injuries that the fans sustained though. Nobody should be at fault.

Fans should know the dangers of sitting in the grandstands at a NASCAR race. I have never been to a NASCAR race myself but I bet the view from the stands is second to none.

Fans should be grateful that NASCAR allows them to sit so close to the action.

When 40 vehicles are traveling bumper-to-bumper at almost 200 miles per hour with everything on the line, crashes are inevitable.