"Live from" Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series

Ken Miele · 10-02-2010, 07:53 PM

Eliminations ended early this evening, not a thing I like to report, but there was a accident.

Tom Giardino driving his Super Gaser rolled at the finish line and went over the wall. There was a fire, but they did get him out and he left in the ambulance, no word on how he is doing. He was racing Jason Kenny, Jason was not involved in the accident. Lets hope he is doing okay and he was just taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Super comp did get there first round done as did ss, sst and stk. Here are a few shots from sst in the lanes before there last time shot.

Bryan Gillespie · 10-03-2010, 07:20 AM

any word on why he crashed ?

KEVIN T · 10-03-2010, 05:36 PM

Had to leave on Saturday after time shot. (engine problem). I heard a few S/ST cars had mishaps during elims. Sunday morning. I hope everyone is ok. Does anyone know who had problems? Was the track in that poor of a condition that they shut down the race?

Kevin Tiedemann
S/ST 145T

BKSG1198 · 10-03-2010, 06:14 PM

As Ken posted earlier it was Tom Giardino who's car crashed Saturday night. I was standing on the starting line watching a few pair since my Dad was back in the pack. Tom went through the traps and not sure if something broke or what (not going to speculate as to what might have happen) but, the car made a strong hook right behind Jason and never got airborne and went straight hard into the wall at about 150mph. After that all I saw was dust and dirt but, according to a few people who were on the top end the car started to roll and went up and over the wall (right where the motorhomes and trailers are parked) and landed in the grass and caught fire. The fire burnt for a good minute or two before the truck got to him. The were able to get him out and the trucks rushed him away. After they called the race and told the S/G guys to go back for the night, we saw the life flight chopper land over the tree line and take back off. I heard he was in Cooper Hospital and I've heard many different stories so we all just need to cross our fingers and pray for him and his family.

This morning they ran the dryer up and down the track and the first pair out was Jeff Livezey Jr. and his Cutlass. Jeff told me when the car came off the stop it drifted towards the centerline and before he knew it he got out of it but, was already heading towards the wall. Some damage to the right front of the car but, it can be fixed. The next pair out was John Mag Sr. and a little red Nova and it was like watching a Top Fuel peddle fest as both cars were all over the track and post 11 and 12 second times. They then decided to bring the track dryer out and put some more heat in the track and glue it. They got about another 6 or 7 pairs down and Bernie Staub and Dave Bergfeldt raced each other. Dave went though the traps after beating Bernie and the car made a hard left and started to roll and ended upside down. Dave got out of the car but, at that time they called the race. Tough weekend for Dave as he is really good friends with Tom and had been helping him out at a few MASGA races this year. I guess we will see in 2 weeks...

1320gmhp · 10-03-2010, 06:28 PM

Thoughts and prayers go out to Tom.

Ken Miele · 10-03-2010, 08:35 PM

Thanks for the update Bob, I was not sure who the drivers were so I did not want to speculate on who they were or how it happened.

Here are some nice actions shots from John DiBartolomeo Editor-DRAG RACING ACTION Magazine http://www.dragracingaction.com/

10-02-2010, 07:53 PM	#1
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,568 Likes: 350 Liked 13,130 Times in 1,235 Posts	"Live from" Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series Eliminations ended early this evening, not a thing I like to report, but there was a accident. Tom Giardino driving his Super Gaser rolled at the finish line and went over the wall. There was a fire, but they did get him out and he left in the ambulance, no word on how he is doing. He was racing Jason Kenny, Jason was not involved in the accident. Lets hope he is doing okay and he was just taken to the hospital as a precaution. Super comp did get there first round done as did ss, sst and stk. Here are a few shots from sst in the lanes before there last time shot. Attached Thumbnails

10-03-2010, 07:20 AM	#2
Bryan Gillespie Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 456 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Live from" Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series any word on why he crashed ?

10-03-2010, 05:36 PM	#3
KEVIN T Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bradenton Fl Posts: 83 Likes: 5 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Live from" Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series Had to leave on Saturday after time shot. (engine problem). I heard a few S/ST cars had mishaps during elims. Sunday morning. I hope everyone is ok. Does anyone know who had problems? Was the track in that poor of a condition that they shut down the race? Kevin Tiedemann S/ST 145T

10-03-2010, 06:14 PM	#4
BKSG1198 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Back in Vineland, NJ Posts: 2,461 Likes: 82 Liked 984 Times in 299 Posts	Re: "Live from" Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series As Ken posted earlier it was Tom Giardino who's car crashed Saturday night. I was standing on the starting line watching a few pair since my Dad was back in the pack. Tom went through the traps and not sure if something broke or what (not going to speculate as to what might have happen) but, the car made a strong hook right behind Jason and never got airborne and went straight hard into the wall at about 150mph. After that all I saw was dust and dirt but, according to a few people who were on the top end the car started to roll and went up and over the wall (right where the motorhomes and trailers are parked) and landed in the grass and caught fire. The fire burnt for a good minute or two before the truck got to him. The were able to get him out and the trucks rushed him away. After they called the race and told the S/G guys to go back for the night, we saw the life flight chopper land over the tree line and take back off. I heard he was in Cooper Hospital and I've heard many different stories so we all just need to cross our fingers and pray for him and his family. This morning they ran the dryer up and down the track and the first pair out was Jeff Livezey Jr. and his Cutlass. Jeff told me when the car came off the stop it drifted towards the centerline and before he knew it he got out of it but, was already heading towards the wall. Some damage to the right front of the car but, it can be fixed. The next pair out was John Mag Sr. and a little red Nova and it was like watching a Top Fuel peddle fest as both cars were all over the track and post 11 and 12 second times. They then decided to bring the track dryer out and put some more heat in the track and glue it. They got about another 6 or 7 pairs down and Bernie Staub and Dave Bergfeldt raced each other. Dave went though the traps after beating Bernie and the car made a hard left and started to roll and ended upside down. Dave got out of the car but, at that time they called the race. Tough weekend for Dave as he is really good friends with Tom and had been helping him out at a few MASGA races this year. I guess we will see in 2 weeks...

10-03-2010, 06:28 PM	#5
1320gmhp Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NY/ NJ Posts: 9 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Live from" Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series Thoughts and prayers go out to Tom.

10-03-2010, 08:35 PM	#6
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,568 Likes: 350 Liked 13,130 Times in 1,235 Posts	Re: "Live from" Atco , NJ - NHRA Lucas Oil Series Thanks for the update Bob, I was not sure who the drivers were so I did not want to speculate on who they were or how it happened. Here are some nice actions shots from John DiBartolomeo Editor-DRAG RACING ACTION Magazine http://www.dragracingaction.com/ Attached Thumbnails