Huge Crash In NASCAR – Aric Almirola Flown to Local Hospital. Danica Patrick and Joey Logano Involved.

Petty Motorsports driver Aric Almirola had to be extracted from the wreckage of his #43 Ford following a fiery crash last night at the NASCAR series stop in Kansas City, Kansas. The crash, which stemmed from an apparent parts failure on Joey Logano’s car as the cars entered Turn 1 on Lap 199 of the 267-lap Go Bowling 400, collected Danica Patrick as well.

After Logano’s car took a hard left into Patrick’s back bumper, both cars slid up into the outside retaining wall, Danica’s car spewing flames, where moments later Almirola slammed into Logano’s car, causing Aric’s car to lift high into the air, then slam hard back onto the track’s surface. The abrupt return to earth was the apparent cause of a compression fracture in Almirola’s spine.

The race was stopped while the roof was cut from the Ford Fusion to facilitate the driver’s removal and subsequent transport to the awaiting medical helicopter, which then airlifted him to University of Kansas Medical Center, where he was examined, then released earlier this morning. Almirola will return home today and follow up with doctors back in Charlotte where he resides.

In the interview below,  Joey Logano, whose car started the melee, is visibly upset and worried about Almirola’s well being.