VIPsports - Danny Townsend Update
Milford, Michigan. September 27, 2006. Top Alcohol Funny Car, driver Danny Townsend is recovering from a final round accident at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Race Series event in Columbus, Ohio this past Sunday. The seven time Division 3 champion was knocked unconscious after hitting the right side retaining wall at the 330 foot mark. From its right lane position, the car crossed over into the opposite lane, hitting the left side concrete wall. At that point the throttle fully reopened sending the car into the shutdown area. With Townsend still unconscious, the car continued at speed into the top end sand and catch net.
Danny regained consciousness as he was being attended to by the National Trail Raceway and Division 3 safety crews and the Hebron Fire Department. He was stabilized and carefully moved to the MedFlight helicopter for transport to The Ohio State University Medical Center Intensive Care Unit. Townsend remains in stable condition and has been moved out of ICU to a private room. He is periodically being moved to a chair. Danny is very sore, but has no broken bones. Doctors caution that the healing process may be very slow. In time, a full recovery is expected.
Clearly, the design and construction of the Murf McKinney built Dodge kept Danny from suffering much more serious injuries.
Frank Parker and the VIPsports/ParkerTech Racing Services team thank all who helped at the end of the track, packing up in the pits and at the hospital.
Special thanks to Danny’s great friends Chuck and Joyce Cheeseman. They along with Dan and Cindy Parker have stayed by his side night and day since the accident. Thank God for the blessing of having Glenn and Linda Kreider of Racers For Christ as our Division 3 Chaplains. They brought comfort when Danny, his team and friends needed them most.
Frank is also thankful for the outpouring of support in the days following the accident. Danny has made many friends in his 30+ years of racing.
Weekly updates will be sent out by the VIPsports team. Please do not call or send anything to the hospital.
Cards and well wishes can be sent to:
ParkerTech Racing Services
1447 Orban Road
Milford, Michigan 48380
