The AARO AMP Energy Racing Series officials had reportedly previously scheduled a meeting regarding the future of the Miami Speedway prior to the official schedule announcement for 2018. The track, seemed dangerous and unfit for the series by fans, was taken into a serious discussion on whether the league would return. Ultimately, there was no reversal of the decision to travel to the 1.5 mile south Florida track and the race was a go, for ANS sand AERS competition.
The drivers and fans were both nervous heading into the weekend. The speeds these cars had been going was just unpredictable and frankly, very dangerous. The AAA National Series race saw some heavy, albeit somewhat cushioned, hits that made people feel uneasy, including drivers. Clyde Latinger told the media after qualifying that, “There are times where I seriously second guess a move because I don’t want to die. It’s not right.” However, despite complains and claims of feeling scared, the race went on as scheduled.
Fans were treated to an early snooze fest, seeing polesitter Carson Crompton drop from the pole and relinquish his lead to Zach McRae in car number 5, who dominated the early portion of the race before falling out for mechanical trouble.
After James Rodin’s error that brought out the first yellow, things started to get dicey, and the yellows started flying. Nothing too out of the ordinary happened. Jonathon Ringer, Jared Kash, who would wreck, Shawn Glossum, who also wrecked and Seth McGuire traded the top spot several times, Kody Lachner, Greg Knee and Clyde Latinger all ran up front as well.
Late in the going though, during a lengthy green flag run, Mikael Carter’s #39 would sneak his way into the top spot after running up front most of the race and secured his second JN Motorsports victory, doing burnouts on the frontstretch to angry fans tossing beer cans and debris at his race car. This was odd.
This was very odd, Mikael Carter is the most popular driver on the AERS circuit, why is everyone angry? Well, that’s because after the checkered flag flew, there was mayhem, and it was very scary. The mayhem centered around Carson Crompton, who had been slow all race after Kody Lachner dumped him after a yellow. Speaking of which, Lachner, who had a late race tire issue, said about the incident, “Not my problem he got turned, sorry, not sorry.”
Lachner was called to the hauler and spent a good hour in there along with crew chief Alex Whitmore. There are reports of an alledged brawl in the garage area post race between the 81 team, the 53 team, and the 84 team. Lachner was apparently involved, as well as Knee, but Crompton was being transported by air to a local hospital.
The incident on the race cooldown lap saw Greg Knee run over Crompton’s #84 and sent both into the outside wall in turn 1 which at first was very harmless. But, as both slid down the track it was clear this was the opposite of harmless. Crompton was hit very hard and viciously by teammate Nate Smith, along with Seth McGuire, Alex Jates and Caine Dwyer. Pat McKenzie was also collected in the mayhem. It was looking very bleak as three drivers, McKenzie, Smith and of course, Crompton all were assisted in being removed from their racecars and were airlifted to a local hospital. Fans were silent, just completely worried about driver safety when Carter’s AMP Energy Dodge pulled around and started doing his signature burnouts in celebration of his victory.
Fans were not pleased. They threw cans, coolers, headphones, clothes, cups, anything you can imagine at the 39, who, despite clearly rattling the crowd, continued to celebrate like nothing had happened. The booing in victory lane actually got so bad that reporters and team members were escorted to a private infield suite to celebrate, and media availability was shortened significantly, only allowing Carter a simple response.
“We drove a hell of a race today and I’m proud of these guys!” he said, “We didn’t have a real good weekend but I’m glad we could just do what it takes to get the job done.”
When asked about the debacle at the end, he said, “Yeah I knew something had happened down in [turn] 1. Well the straightaway was open, why can’t I celebrate?” After this response, the media center was enraged, and Carter was immediately escorted to his trailer for the day before departing back home to Livonia.
Brawl ensues in garage area following Outback 200; Other comments from Miami
Following a VERY tense Outback 200 at Miami Speedway, there was a major altercation in the garages as the crew members from Carson Crompton’s team supposedly mobbed the haulers of the 81 and 53 teams, conveniently located just two haulers down from eachother, sparking a massive brawl which also included crew members from Ryan Barley’s tdam. Lachner and Knee were both very much involved. The brawl lasted around 3 minutes and had some heavy punches, kicks, and objects thrown. Five crew members, one from the 84 team, 2 from the 53 team and 2 from the 81 team, were sent to the infield care center for injuries. More to come as we learn more.
Driver quotes from Miami:
Caine Dwyer: “We has a strong start and a poor finish. I hate it for everyone, what happened there at the end was my inexperience showing. I am taking full responsibility for my senseless actions and I can assure everyone that won’t happen again. I wish I could explain what exactly happened, but I can’t. My spotter told me while I was in turn 4 there was chaos ensuing in 1, but I didn’t slow down nearly enoug and kept pushing to finish the race. It backfired and I just hope my actions can be forgiven by all.”
Seth McGuire: “Honestly we drove a hell of a race. Overshadowed by the end there but we had a great car. Congrats to Mikael, he was awesome today. Umm but at the end all I saw was Carson slowly moving down the track and by that point I was trying to gun it pas everything. He just came down ever so slowly and I just didn’t have the skill to react well. It’s tough and I hate to see that happen.”
Lachner: “I don’t know what the fuck happened today. Nobody drives with respect anymore and nobody gives a fuck about eachother. I sure as hell don’t anymore because I learned long ago how the talent is just at an all time low and is only going to keep dropping in this supposedly best stock car league in the world. Gimme a break. And to Carson, your team is a bunch of brats, grow up. It’s not my problem you wrecked, sorry, not sorry.”
Jonathon Ringer: “I think if Mikael knew the severity he wouldn’t have done those burnouts. It’s tough to watch, I know I was cringing hard while he celebrated but I just know he didn’t mean to do that.”
NathanSmith83 Racing Legend
Posts : 242 Join date : 2014-12-31 Location : The 5th Dimension
Carson Crompton and Nathan Smith Cleared to Race at Darlington
A very avoidable accident occurred after the checkered flag flew. Greg Knee turned the lapped car of Carson Crompton into the turn 1 wall, and much of the field did not have time or did not know to slow down after crossing the line. One of the first to pile in was teammate Nathan Smith, immediately trailed by 2 other competitors. Smith said in a nearby Miami hospital:
"After racing all out to the line we didn't have time to avoid it. Especially being at the front of a line if cars, I couldn't know if they would slow down too or simply run me over and I would become another sitting duck for the pack to run over. I did what I could to slow down and move out of the way given the circumstances. We both took a brutal hit. Glad we're okay."
Crompton was bounced around by several cars. He was hit in both the passenger and drivers side doors and head on at various speed and angles, each subsequent becoming less and less excusable. Many were worried he may have been seriously injured, but he was only severely dazed and was more trapped in the car than physically unable to escape from the wreckage.
"I'm just glad it didn't catch fire since I couldn't get out. what I'm not happy about is being surrounded by talentless, brainless, or straight up murderous motherfuckers. I don't know what the 53 was fucking thinking. The race is over and you just dump me for fuck all reason. We never made contact at all. I never blocked him while being lapped. That whole team doesn't even deserve to be exist I don't know how their drivers are licensed to drive on public roads much less race tracks. I know even less of what the fuck Dwyer was doing. Honestly I was in the process of removing all the shit that saved my life while he plowed head on into me. That's how much time he had to slow down.
And Lachner, you're irrelevant ass can get out of the series like your slow ass team will. 3 years and all those millions have given Garth nothing because they cannot sign a driver with more brain cells than testicles. Or any skill for that matter. I do have to admit I know see why you think Dwyer is overrated."
Ike Durbin also got into Aaron Anderson and turned him into a lazy spin down the front stretch that brought out the caution in which Lachner turned Crompton under the ensuing yellow. That being coupled with Smith plowing into the 84 were quick to think that Crompton would begin his team-depriving drama and begging to be released, but he actually defended his teammates.
"You can't blame the 85 or 86 for bringing out the caution. I guess its the lappers fault but that was a racing deal. I don't exactly see why it warranted a yellow to be honest, he was out of the racing line and no damage to any car was done. Even so all that is irrelevant: it's not anybody else's fault that Lachner dumped me under yellow except Lachner's. And its nobody's fault but Knee's for dumping me and causing that pileup. And its nobody's fault but Dwyer's for plowing into me. Simple as that"
Crompton snapped at a reporter that claimed Smith had plowed into him without reason
"Have you watched it? There were guys on his ass. He had just raced them to the line and in maybe one-tenth of a mile managed to slow himself down a decent amount while also not himself being turned from behind. What more do you want him to do? Have you ever driven one of these things. They weigh like 2 tons and he went from 190 to 150. Call up Neil Degrasse Tyson to hear how much force that requires. I'm ranting to somebody who clearly doesn;t even know what's going on around him to begin with, next question."
Crompton mostly took exception with Mikael Carter celebrating while 3 drivers were being airlifted for emergency treatment
"What asshole does that. He waited for a 34 minute red flag period and THEN does burnouts? He only won because me and the 1 car, who, by the way, also doesn't know who to drive under yellow, and so many other faster cars were taken out in stupid incidents. He could care less about anyone around him. It takes a lot of trust and respect to do what we do, and I know I cannot speak alone when I say I lost a lot of trust and respect for him today. He knows if he was one of the ones in the crash the other 41 drivers would've been more focused on his safety than their performance, yes even the winner."
Crompton has called out several drivers in his interviews since the race. It will be interesting to see how these stories develop throughout the rest of the year.
Weatherman Hall of Famer
Posts : 795 Join date : 2009-06-23 Age : 32 Location : Sunrise, FL
Knee, finishing 6th, becomes the villain of the race getting involved in a major accident after the checkered comes out, getting into a brawl in the garage after and speaks out
Greg Knee is currently public enemy number one after causing a severe accident which left fans breathless and drivers pissed. Knee got into Crompton after the checkered flew and even though Knee disabled his car due to the crash, Crompton got the worst of it getting plowed by multiple drivers. Afterwards, Knee was involved in the brawl in the garage. The only known and confirmed person that Knee punched is the unknown 84 pit crew member. After the dust settled, Knee spoke out.
"Really proud of our guys today, we fought hard today and it could have been a better run but lapped cars got in the way and I get it they have the right to be on the track but they need to do a better job of staying the hell out of the way of the leaders. I got held up by every damn lapped car out here today it feels like and I'll admit it pissed me off. And yes, it pissed me off to the point to where I hit the 84 after the race just kinda wanting to say you know to hell with him today but the last thing I wanted to do was cause a near catastrophe. We hit twice and we both lost it and it destroyed my car and I thought I got the worst end of it but then comes everyone else finishing and there seemingly unaware that the car is a solid object. I get it, these cars just don't stop but holy hell folks, you see a stopped car and a slow car the thoughts should be 'Hey, let's slow down' not 'Hey, let's join the party'. You know I heard Crompton's comments and I know he's pissed and he has every right to be but I would have just talked to him and not have his whole damn crew come charge after me in the garage. I know a lot of people are pissed at me and the officials are pissed at me so I don't know how the talks are going to go but right now, let's all get the hell out of here and just start preparing for the next one."