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Drivers emerge unscathed following race ending crash
All American Driveline’s Ben Grice and young driver James Simpson in the Cairns Plaza Hotel-supported Dodge Challenger have emerged unscathed following a large crash forcing an early end to the second Supercheap Auto Trans Am Series race at AWC Race Tasmania.
Polesitter at the start of the weekend, Grice’s Ford Mustang encountered a problem just prior to the penultimate corner while in the lead and slowed. As he was trying to solve the malady in front of pit lane, Grice was hit by Simpson, who in turn was battling Jett Johnson in the NAPA Auto Parts Ford Mustang.
The impact flipped the Cairns Plaza Hotel Challenger along the start-finish area as it landed on its wheels along the pit wall.
Grice’s Mustang also ended in the same wall, but further back towards the final turn.
Both drivers exited their entries without assistance and were sent to the medical centre for checks, Simpson revealing he was ok via social media. Earlier, he had spoken to Stan Sport to explain the incident.
“Jett [Johnson] and I were having a bit of a battle – it’s not Jett’s fault at all – he put his own up the inside, I was just coming around the corner, gave him room; obviously Gricey was just parked – I don’t know if he had damage or – I just had nowhere to go,” said Simpson.
“I didn’t see anything put up or anything, I wasn’t notified of it. I just came around the corner and collected him. Bit of a sad or devastating moment, but hopefully we’ll be back for the next round.
“I seem to be fine, just a bit shook – I’m just glad these cars are built strong.”
The final race of the Supercheap Auto Trans Am Series at AWC Race Tasmania will commence at 3:25pm AEDT.