R.I.P. 12-Year Old Tyler Morr - Succumbed this p.m. from Florida Kids Club Race Crash Injuries

The grief must be unbearable to lose your child. Thoughts and prayers to the family of this young racer.

Arcadia boy injured in speedway race dies

By The Tampa Tribune
May 23, 2012

Tyler Morr Drives His #17

A 12-year-old Arcadia boy injured after crashing his race car during a youth event at the Auburndale Speedway on Saturday has died.

Tyler Morr died at 3:15 today at All Children's Hospital, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

The Auburndale Speedway is planning a tribute to Tyler this weekend which will include a fundraising effort for the 12-year-old's family.

Morr was driving a black stock car in a Kids Club heat race at the track, 5640 W. County Road 542 in Winter Haven, when the crash occurred.

Polk County sheriff's deputies said the races are regularly scheduled events for youths ages 12 to 16, and this race involved five cars racing for eight laps.

During the race, Tyler was in the outside of the second turn when a second car, driven by 12-year-old Justin Cribbs of Lakeland, passed him on the inside.

Tyler moved toward the inside and into Justin, deputies said. Tyler lost control of the car, which rotated clockwise and struck a concrete wall bordering the outside of the track.

Track rescue and medical personnel immediately were at the crash scene, and Tyler was initially flown to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, deputies said. His condition stabilized, and he then was flown to All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.

Justin was not injured and drove his vehicle to the pit area when the race was stopped.

Both drivers were the sole occupants of their vehicles, and both were harnessed and wearing helmets. The vehicles, which are non-registered, modified cars built strictly for youth racing, were reinforced inside as is common with standard racing cars, deputies said.

Speeds of vehicles were estimated to be no more 40 to 45 mph.

Other races at the track were canceled after the crash.

In defense of the writer's choice of words, I commend him for not over dramatizing the crash, he put it as simple and honestly as a reporter could. In defense of the track, concrete walls are the way it is at local tracks, they all have one, there is no alternative for local tracks. I'm sure the family of Tyler is absolutely devastated knowing that their son died in a car they built but, that is ultimate risk of racing at any level, in any motorized sport. It's a terrible tragedy. Peace and comfort to all.

Robbie, I tend to agree with you, there should be an age limit on driving a race car and 12 IS NOT IT!!! I would have never put my son in a car at that age and I've seen kids in cars that could barely see over the steering wheel, not a good move on the parents part. Bottom line is there needs to be more restrictions and closer safety inspections by the track officials, this ain't a "Good ol' boy" system, not when it comes to children. You look all amusement parks, you have to be a certain height to even get on some rides.

I kinda tremble thinking about 11- year old Macy Causey driving those full sized Sportsman Cars at the 1/2-mile Virginia Motor Speedway.

I would not be in favor of my child or grandchild racing at those ages.

I wouldn't even want to race against a kid that age and I'm sure that's the sentiment of most of the drivers that do, I'd bet they feel a little nervous around the kid, I know I would. Again, the good ol boy system is favoring those parents.

So sad. My heart and my prayers go out to this family.

I plan to address this issue, in a small degree, in Tuesday's Legendtorial. In the meantime, my deepest sympathy to the family of this youngster.Ican not imagine the pain.

We race at VMS and think the same thing. But you have to ask, what type of parent would put their young childout there like that?