From America’s Motorsports Park
Clearfield, PA — (June 20, 2014) — The Sprints saw a field of 18 take the green flag as new comer Jacob Gamola took the lead from fellow front row starter Greg Bartchy. Lap two saw Bartchy take the lead with Gamola second and Ralph Engle third with 12th place starter John Braim moving through the field. On lap four Braim was second, taking the lead on lap eight. Bartchy fell to third and was fading some when disaster struck.
“Cowboy” Jim Kennedy got tagged and spun into the front stretch wall head on, he bounced off the wall and into traffic, collecting Tylor Cochran and Bartchy. Kennedy ended up nearly on his side. He was not hurt, but medical personnel were tending to Bartchy. He was removed from the car with care and transported by Mountain Top Fire Co. EMS of Sandy Ridge to Clearfield Airport where he was flown by Stat MedEvac Helicopter to UPMC Altoona. At least report Bartchy was serious with little or no feeling in his lower extremities. Sunday morning it was learned that Bartchy has improved drastically overnight and he has the feeling back in his lower extremities. He is pretty sore yet, so the hospital was planning to keep him another night. He was expected to be released from UPMC Altoona sometime Monday.
America’s Motorsports Park wishes to thank Hyde Vol. Fire Co. and Mountain Top Fire Co. EMS for their quick response and professionalism responding to and tending to the crash.
The race restarted a while later and it was Braim leading to the finish for his second win of the season. Engle was second with Jeff Bacha, Todd Lynn and Cochran completing the top five. Heat wins were split between Kennedy and Engle.