ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Sprint Car driver Kramer Williamson is in surgery after crashing during a qualifying race at Lincoln Speedway.
Lincoln Speedway promoter Alan Kreitzer told The Associated Press that Williamson, the Palmyra driver inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2008, collided with another car and then rolled over Saturday night.
Williamson keeps his age a secret, but has been racing for more than 40 years. He shared the 1971 rookie of the year title at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg.
A spokesman for the Eastern Adams Regional Police department in Abbottstown said officers were dispatched to the track — a 3/8-mile, high-banked clay oval — at around 8:15 p.m.
Kreitzer said one of Williamson’s family members notified United Racing Company officials that he was in surgery at York Hospital Friday night. UCR officials then notified Kreitzer.
Administrators at York Hospital didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
The speedway tweeted this around noon Sunday:
Latest information received on Kramer Williamson from his family.
“Kramer Williamson, Palmyra, underwent surgery for internal injuries at the York Hospital following an accident in a URC Sprint Car event Saturday night. URC officials reported that Williamson is listed in critical condition.”
Again, our thoughts and prayers are with Kramer and his family…”
Kreitzer said Williamson was on the fourth lap of a 10-lap qualifying round when the accident occurred. He said emergency workers responded immediately and Williamson was transported by helicopter to the hospital.
In June, NASCAR driver Jason Leffler died from injuries sustained in a Sprint Car crash at Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, N.J.
About two weeks before Leffler’s death, Josh Burton died of injuries sustained in a crash at Bloomington Speedway in Indiana. In late May at a dirt track in Nevada, two drivers were killed in a race. In March in California, two people were killed when a car careened off a dirt track and crashed on pit road.
Sprint car races can be more dangerous for drivers and spectators because the safety measures taken by series aren’t at the same level. Many facilities lack the SAFER barriers that are standard in NASCAR and IndyCar, and the cars aren’t always adequately protected.
Three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart is among a large group of NASCAR drivers that often drive in sprint car events in their spare time.
Stewart has been involved in two crashes at sprint car events in the past two weeks, but has adamantly repeated he will continue to race because he loves the sport and the escape from the weekly grind of the NASCAR schedule.
Contributing: USA TODAY Sports staff
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