2 spectators killed at Sprint Car race

(CNN) -- A car lost control and slammed into the pits at a racetrack in California on Saturday evening, killing two spectators, authorities said. The crash took place during warmup laps -- an hour before the race -- at Marysville Raceway Park, about 40 miles north of Sacramento. "It appears the driver had a stuck throttle," said Steven Blakesley, an announcer for sprint car races. He was at this race, however, as a spectator. Saturday's race was the season opener for the California Sprint Car Civil War Series.

California Sprint Car crash

Very sad news. A few more details:

Crash at California race track leaves 2 dead

By Bill Hanstock on Mar 16 2013, 11:36p

SB Nation

A driver lost control of his car on Saturday evening at Marysville Raceway Park in California, slamming into a wall in the track's pit lane and killing two people, according to Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee and News10 KXTV.

The driver was 17-year-old Chase Johnson, who is a student at nearby Petaluma High School. Racetrack announcer Steven Blakesley was the first person to report on the crash, tweeting out the following just after 6 p.m. PT:

We have had a very serious accident. Chase Johnson had a problem and flew into the pits. Several people appear to be injured.

KXTV reports that one of the victims was Johnson's 14-year-old cousin, while the other is an individual who owned "a few cars in the race." The 68-year-old car owner was pronounced dead at the scene, while the teen was transported to a nearby hospital before being pronounced dead. Johnson was uninjured in the crash, and no others were hurt, according to the Yuba County Sheriff's Department.

Blakesley told KXTV that the car appeared to have suffered a mechanical problem before the crash, which took place during a pre-race practice session.

Saturday's race was canceled following the crash. The drivers have agreed to donate all gate proceeds to the families of the victims.

This is very sad news. It is, of course, the lead story on every news feed I read each morning. Good things happen in racing and it hardly gets a mention, if at all, but the bad thing happens and it leads all news feeds. Guess that only proves that people want to hear the bad, the tragic, before the good news. Maybe the tragic is just more interesting. My prayers go to every person involved in this tragic accident. My heart goes out to all of them.

Very sad situation. From the news account the sprint car went thru an "opening in the track" . I saw an almost identical situation last year at Bronson speedway here in Florida. A race car's throttle stuck open and he hit the outside wall 5 feet from the opening where the next group was sitting,waiting to take the track. The pit exit/entrance flag person just jumped out of the way a split second from being run over. There were several people/crew standing talking to the drivers of the waiting cars. If the car had went 5 feet further and hit the opening he would have went at full speed between the 2 rows of cars.
As others have said, my heart and prayers go out to the families of those killed and to the young driver involved.

Just saddens my heart....God be with them, all....

It is SO good, to see your face and your words...comforts me...

I believe it was at Michigan (the Mark accident) and it had the potential to be horrendous. Only by the grace of God was it not. As stated above, certainly prayers go out to the individuals and families. Seems to be some of the driver's own family members involved if I read correctly. Heart breaking.

Prayers to the famlies of the lost

oh breaks my heart, how awful.

I agree, the media feeds on tragedies like this,

Thoughts and prayers

Very Sad Bad Dial Prayers to the Famlies