7/8/2017
Casey Starr
Rough Night for Casey Starr Racing
Our night at Cottage Grove Speedway didn't quite go as planned. The heat race in the kart went great, got the car running smooth and finally found some speed. In the micro we took the green and as we were going into turn 3 the car and I had a different idea of how it was going to go. We flew off the end of the track and off the bank and landed flat on the ground. I knew immediately something was wrong. I was having a hard time breathing, I was in serious pain and knew I needed medical attention. The ambulance was called as well as a fire truck. After controversy about removal of me from the car we only ended up cutting a restraint on my seat to get a brace behind my back. We were transported to Riverbend hospital in Springfield where they did an X-ray of my chest and lungs and a CT scan of my abdomen, chest and back. All the images came back clear and I was discharged with a compression injury in my middle to upper back. I'm so so so grateful it wasn't worse and I'm so thankful for proper safety equipment.
I cannot thank the officials at Cottage Grove Speedway enough for their quick thinking and taking great care of me. There's also a lot of people to thank for helping get me out of the car, loading my trailer, taking care of my dog, coming to the hospital to make sure I was ok and so much more. I'm so lucky to have such an amazing racing family and great people in my life. Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart, I love you all.
This being said we will not continue our weekend at Sunset Speedway tonight to allow for some healing. The rest of our season is postponed indefinitely as of right now depending on how long the healing process will take. Back injuries are nothing to mess around with so we will do whatever it takes to make sure it gets healed the right way. Stay tuned for updates on recovery and when we will return to the track. Again thank you to everyone that helped us out during this scary time. You all are amazing people and we are so blessed to have you in our lives.
Submitted By: Casey Starr
