Tony Stewart won today's DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona, but all anyone will remember about the race is how it ended for another driver, Kyle Larson. A massive wreck at the checkered flag sent Larson's car through the catch fence, sending debris and even the car's engine itself hurtling toward spectators.
Larson, fortunately, seemed okay. As for the spectators, it appears several were injured (scroll down for terrifying fan video of the crash as it happened):
We'll update as we hear more, and this wreck is likely to be a big part of conversation surrounding tomorrow's Daytona 500. Here's another shot of the wreck:
[ESPN]
Updates:
And, of course, SportsCenter opened its broadcast with the latest Danica Patrick news, not the wreck:
NASCAR tried to block this very scary video taken from the stands by a spectator, but we've got a copy (originally posted by YouTube user tyler4dx):
(6:35 p.m.): SPEED is reporting at least one fan is in critical condition.
(6:50 p.m.): WFTV has some unreal photos of the incident and the aftermath.
(7:12 p.m.): Daytona & NASCAR officials are being very tight-lipped, but say fans will be in those same seats tomorrow. SPEED reports one of the injured fans in critical condition is a child.
(8:00 p.m.): NASCAR admits wiping the video off YouTube, claims it was "out of respect for the injured":
(11:00 p.m.): The two fans in critical condition are considered to be stable. One fan had surgery for a head injury that was, according to ESPN, a success.