Two of three injured crew members released

By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
November 12, 2001
4:16 PM EST (2116 GMT)

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Two of the three injured crew members of the No. 28 Ford driven by Ricky Rudd have been released from the hospital while a third is still under medical care in Miami.

Bobby Burrell, the front tire changer who resides in Huntersville, N.C., is listed in serious condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital with a head injury. The 30-year old received the injuries on pit road during the Pennzoil Freedom 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday. Also injured were John Bryan, jackman, and Kevin Hall, front tire carrier.

Burrell was first taken to the infield care center and was immediately airlifted to the hospital.

Crewmen injured in pit road accident  Video: The accident

Bryan, 31, who lives in Charlotte, N.C., was treated for a mild concussion, lacerations and bruises. He had no broken bones and was treated and released from Baptist Memorial in Miami, Fla. on Sunday evening.

Hall, 31, who resides in Mooresville, was treated for bruises and lacerations at the track's infield care center and returned home with the team on Sunday evening.

The accident occurred during a caution pit stop when multiple cars were on pit road. Ward Burton left his pit stall in the No. 22 Dodge and was hit on the right side by Casey Atwood in the No. 19 Dodge. As a result, Burton's car shot back to the left and careened into the three crew members and one Winston Cup official.

The official, Kenny Lawson, was overseeing Rudd's pit stops and leapt into the air when he saw Burton's car veer towards him. He landed on the hood and windshield before falling to the ground when the car stopped.

It was the left front of Burton's car that struck the No. 28 crew members as they were changing the right-front tire. The impact knocked them across the pit stall and into the cement pit wall.

Both Rudd and Burton visited the hospital on Sunday evening. Robert Yates, owner of Rudd's team, drove to Jackson Memorial with a member of Motor Racing Outreach, which ministers to the NASCAR series.