From Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (July 19, 2010) – Just as positive reports were spreading of successful surgery for Wayne Johnson following a wild ride in Lucas Oil ASCS National action at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, WA, on Saturday night, word broke on Sunday evening of a fellow past ASCS National champion and one of his crew members involved in a serious shop accident on Sunday night in Washington.
Travis Rilat, the 2003 ASCS National champion hailing from Forney, TX, and Australian crew member Tyson Perez both suffered severe burns when a methanol barrel exploded on Sunday evening. Rilat and Perez were transported to a Seattle hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
Early indications are that both Rilat and Perez will remain in the Harborview burn unit for at least two to three months.
Tom Lorenz of Smiley’s Racing Products has established a fund for Rilat and Perez. Contributions to the Travis Rilat/Tyson Perez fund may be made by calling the First State Bank in Mesquite, TX, at 972-285-6311.
Less than 24 hours earlier, 2000 ASCS National champion Wayne Johnson was transported to the same Harborview Hospital in Seattle after suffering severe leg injuries in a lap two “A” Main crash at Grays Harbor Raceway’s Fourth Annual Fred Brownfield Memorial.
Johnson, a native of Oklahoma City, OK, currently residing in Knoxville, IA, underwent what was deemed a successful surgery early Sunday and will undergo a second surgery later in the week to finalize cleanup of the wounds. A full recovery is expected for Johnson.