Earnhardt Uninjured In Kansas Testing Crash

Earnhardt walked away unhurt

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., was treated and released from the Infield Care Center at Kansas Speedway this morning, after a hard crash during the second day of a scheduled Goodyear tire test at the speedway. 

Earnhardt’s Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet reportedly suffered a right-front tire failure and made heavy contact with the outside wall. The car was severely damaged, but Earnhardt walked from the Infield Care Center under his own power. He is one of eight drivers testing on the newly repaved 1.5-mile tri-oval today, as Goodyear researches a new tire compound for use at the speedway. In addition to replacing the track’s aging asphalt, crews reworked its 15-degree banking to new, variable degree banking ranging from 17-20 degrees. 

Earnhardt said yesterday that the changes were noticeable in the first and second turns, but less so at the other end of the speedway. Track president Pat Warren said driver feedback has been positive so far. Adding, “The general perception of drivers is not positive about repaves. They worry about what the track is going to be like when they come back (and) they worry about what kind of grip they're going to have. The response from the drivers was overwhelmingly positive about the new configuration." 

NASCAR returns to Kansas on Sunday, Oct. 21 for the sixth event in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Photo: Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images for NASCAR