Fans hit by broken glass Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Photo courtesy of Kevin Fox

   Officials at Charlotte Motor Speedway confirmed on Monday that six fans were seen by medical personnel during Saturday night's Bank of America 500 NASCAR race when a pane of glass in an unoccupied suite in Turn 1 broke late in the race.

   "A pane of glass broke inward ... and a few pieces of the broken glass fell forward," said speedway spokesman Scott Cooper. "Six fans were evaluated or treated and released on property and returned to the race."

   Kevin Fox, of Fort Mill, S.C., was sitting in the Grand National Tower South, Section EE, when he heard a lot noise from above sometime after the 200-lap mark of the 334-lap event.

   "I thought someone had fell or dropped a cooler or something and then I started feeling things fall on me and it turned out to be glass," he said.

   Fox said the area was "covered" in broken glass and he and his mom and several other fans suffered minor cuts. He also was struck on the head by what he assumes was a larger piece of glass, but isn't certain.

   "It was very strange. In the heat of the moment it was hard to figure out what was going on," he said.

   Fox said he left his name and number with the track's guest services staff but had not been contacted by the speedway as of Monday afternoon.

   In May, 10 fans were injured during the Coca-Cola 600 when a nylon rope supporting a Fox Sports overhead television camera fell into the grandstands on onto the track surface, delaying the race.

   In the aftermath, NASCAR banned broadcast networks from using the cable-held aerial cameras. That ban remains in place.

  

Kevin Harvick to run Nationwide races in 2014 with JR Motorsports

 

   Press release:

   Kevin Harvick, a two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and winner of 76 races in NASCAR's top three touring divisions, has signed with JR Motorsports and will compete in a minimum of 12 Nationwide Series races in 2014.  

   Hunt Brothers Pizza, the nation’s largest brand of made-to-order pizza in the convenience store industry, will be the primary sponsor on Harvick’s Chevrolet for four races.

   While Harvick’s Nationwide Series schedule for 2014 is still being finalized, the races in which Hunt Brothers Pizza will serve as primary sponsor have been set. The Hunt Brothers Pizza scheme will be featured at Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and both races at Texas Motor Speedway.

   Harvick will drive JR Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet – a full-season car traditionally shared by multiple drivers on select-race schedules. The driver line-up for that car beyond Harvick is still being determined.

   “This is pretty cool to have Kevin a part of our team,” said owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.  “I’ve known him for a long time.  He’s an incredible racer. He will be a huge asset to JR Motorsports, our sponsors and our fans.  I’m grateful that he wants to drive our cars, and I’m grateful that Hunt Brothers Pizza is committed to Kevin and our race program.  We’re happy to have them.”