Ashley Thompson Wreck at Skagit Speedway 05.15.21

Ashley had a good heat race, starting 6th finishing 4th, setting her up for a 10th place start in the A-Main. On lap 11 you can see the power steering line rupture and car lose all power, resulting in the 2 cars behind her to wreck into her.

[@sammyash9765]

Lucky she didn't lose an arm.

[@codybell2038]

The way she pulled that tear off is what lost her the spots ultimately putting her in that position. Won’t even comment about the rest

[@dwarfcargospel7581]

Exhibit A why I’m hesitant to put my hand out the window, arm is at risk and now you have half as much strength and control over the wheel.

[@snturner10]

That car that hit her first came damn close to getting her arm.

[@williammann9477]

Arm restraints would be a wise move

[@willperdue2189]

As a racer arm restraints don’t do much cause if you shorten them to much you can’t turn but in order to turn you need a lot of slack

[@jimmyneal1988]

She had them on

[@Timberghost74]

@@willperdue2189 Bull. Been wearing them for 25 years, they are still mandatory most places, and if you wear them correctly, you will not have issues.

[@willperdue2189]

@@Timberghost74 I wear them right but they get tangled up in my shifter and they make it hard for me to steer

[@Corky3D]

She had them on, the blue things on the arm. The arm outside the car was intentional, to let people know behind that you're slowing down.

[@Deathloan]

Why is she slowing down on the inside while the track is live? Gotta be clear first.

[@dsjhutch]

Ummmm bc something probably broke genius

[@vette63]

The blue car tried to run her up the fence over & over again. Racing is one thing but that looked obvious.

[@ScoutSniper3124]

Dirt trackers run a line, she didn't have the power to pass on the outside, and she should have expected he was going to drift outside exiting the turns. In other words, she was in the wrong place. That's what is obvious. If you want to pass on the outside, you've GOT to have the power to do it. Look at the line every racer there took, they ALL drift to the outside some exiting the turns. She was a hazard to him, not the other way around.

[@dancobin1985]

Slow motion killed this video

[@billyproctor9047]

Glad your ok. You don't slow up in with cars behind you. Always be mindful that they are there.

[@mcelrjus]

The engine shut off when the power steering blew up. Slowing down was mandatory as the power steering runs the fuel pump.

[@billyproctor9047]

@@mcelrjus Ok I get it. That couldn't have been helped then. Thanks man.

[@youknoweverything7643]

First off glad your ok, constructive criticism I know a lot of ppls had stuff to say but I been racing full size cars since I was ten first car was a mustang ministock with a 9300 rpm reving beast of a car, dad put arm restraints on her especially in a Sprint car type race car where your arms can extend out the window just on her left arm is all, second never ever slow down. In the racing line always make sure there is no cars and everyone has slowed down to pace speed even if it means staying close to race speed when caution comes out for a straight away and a corner so it and try to get out of the line always be mindful there is cars near you going full speed, second you didn't do this in video but as a tip if you are ever stopped on the track cross your arms don't hold your belts cuse when you get hit they will get really tight and can cause a finger to get popped off, and if you know your going into the wall cross your arms, I have only had one serious wreck out of my 22 years of racing and that was 3 years ago throttle got stuck hit walla head on on a huge high bank half mile asphalt oval track in a wing 410 Sprint, please be mindful of others and don't drive looking at your hoodpins you should know at all times if the middle of the straightaway and the next corner accross the track is clear by looking over there real quick and ahead, I always watch from car Infront of me to 4 cars ahead at all times especially in a dirt car where we have no spotters but it's easier to see if next corner is cleared cuse your sideways and you can see over there easily

[@snakeplissken5136]

Looks like the car died in the groove

[@joelgarrard]

This driver was amazing at being in the way..

[@jerrycoggin9434]

Looked like she was trying to warn the guys behind her she had lost power. Lucky she still has a left hand. My guess is she won't be doing that again. I thought arm restraints would prevent a driver's hands and arms getting outside the cage like that. Are they not mandatory? Did she not have them on?

[@jerrycoggin9434]

Just watched it again. People are right. Could have lost half her arm. Did not see any arm restraints

[@NathanM4A1]

Arm restraints dont prevent that area of movement. They lock your elbow to your body. Your forearm still has movement. When we do radio checks on open wheelers from the tower we get them to signal by waving their left hand out the side as they go through turn 1. They have enough movement to do so.

[@jimijames95]

She needs lots of practice as she was an accident waiting to happen. Keep your arms and hands inside the car at speed.Where are your arm restraints?

[@crazywolf8760]

why the hell was she sticking ur hand out side the car before anyone even touched her xD

[@Corky3D]

That's the way you signal to people behind you, that you have a issue and that you're slowing down.

[@godsowndrunk1118]

I was at Skagit back in the late 60's as a kid, when a Super Modified driver (forget his name) was thrown through his front screen and decapitated.....his whole family was there....it was a bad, bad scene....

[@hotdoglover1573]

well alrighty thanks for sharing!

[@43labontepetty]

Why on God's green earth would you stick your hand outside the roll cage? You just about lost an arm. It's not some go kart track out there.

[@rnvrnv354]

Jesus take wheel!

[@lincolnstovall9471]

Left front looks flat?

[@DirtDefenderRacing]

Probably wouldnt stick my hand out the window in a situaltion like that, id try and steer the car up the track

[@bradyfontenot3709]

What is this sport called?

[@keey321]

At first I thought the 05 car I think it's 05 I might be wrong but the one that flipped really bad I thought it was my cousins car for a second because his car has the same colors and it looked like his I almost flipped out.

[@aroara3455]

Wow

[@wesmoody5715]

wow she needs to learn to keep arms hands in side at all times

[@maximumhardcore4362]

@@shanefoster6976 yes I see nascar do this all the time, that’s why so many guys are missing their left arm

[@ChazISfat]

@@shanefoster6976 Robert Kubica..

[@zoeyshoots]

Lol.. it’s how you let other drivers know you are off pace. From go carts up to f1

[@HighLiner15]

She ran better after demounting the left front. 🤣🏁

[@drewwright8608]

Haha you noticed that to haha but then notices that it's down and decides well this seems like a good place to slow down mid corner like what 😅

[@HighLiner15]

@@drewwright8608 yea of all places to back out of the throttle, on the bottom mid corner is not reccomended

[@rjai4890]

Good ole Stevie smith bar just saved your arm lol

[@hotdoglover1573]

whys it called that?

[@ronrivas1453]

Way to let off the throttle mid pack just because you got a little tire rub 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@streetcat957]

I think I saw someone's shoe fly off

[@stalehunter]

When i ran in Houston Tx and Dallas back in the mid to late 80's, we were not allowed on the track without arm restraints.. Any one remember Big H?

[@rambojambone4586]

Lucky

[@alandellinger368]

Hey there was cars that hadnt passed her yet.

[@mcelrjus]

Yea, the 12 behind her.

[@dosilecreations6229]

thank god he still has an arm!

[@kennypatterson9110]

She

[@ayukacarlson3982]

Are you okay

[@chrisnelsonpnw]

Every one in the wreck was OK just a little sore

[@mcelrjus]

Ashley is ok, she's going Kart racing today! The power steering line exploded a couple laps after the Blue 17 fed her a wheel. It's all part of racing.

[@lipfishingthosebass5812]

Probably should be taught how to handle being in a accident before she gets hurt or hurts someone else

[@pack2668]

Here's a tip.... keep your arms in the car unless you wanna lose them!

[@mcelrjus]

Here's a tip, buy a car then come talk to me.

[@pack2668]

@@mcelrjus Typical American racer with an attitude.... I was jus saying keep your arms in pointing it out for other racers who watch this video..

[@mcelrjus]

@@pack2668 If you know any sort of Dirt racing, at all. Waving your hand is a universal gesture for "I'm slowing down". Since the power steering blew up and the engine shut off at 60 mph through the corner, the only thing she could do notify other drivers is just that, make a gesture. There are no brake lights or other signals. It's easy to arm chair quarterback while posting anonymous on the internet. You obviously don't know how quick all this happened and just want to feel superior. Have a good day and get bent.

[@chadcudi2799]

In all seriousness its def wise to keep hands on wheel if impacted hard once. Your career is over if you lose a hand finger and I think thats all the point is. If you argue that then you argue earnhardt. #3. Thats what he told his son. If you wreck and or stall the other drivers SHOULD know how yo.get around safely without input

[@Cliff_Booth]

@@mcelrjus Chill dude. Waiving your arm out the window mid-corner isn't going to do shit.

[@ayukacarlson3982]

But nice race

[@Timmahcrips]

Was just a unfortunate racing incident , front left tire got knocked off the bead with the first collision then went down fully limiting car control. Every one ranting about keeping her hands in the car clearly doesn't know she was signaling to the cars behind that she's attempting to enter the infield to get off track

[@mcelrjus]

The power steering runs the fuel pump, when it blew up the engine shut off going from 80 mph to slamming on the brakes.

[@sawyerdavis9]

this is why i don’t stick my arm out, no matter how angry and upset i am

[@krrr3255]

that was so dumb, dont stick your arm out! wow.... someone get her arm restraints

[@freddyracer8030]

Lack of experience !!

[@shelbylynnmcphearson6541]

Should never be able to get your arm out that far

[@kawai99100]

Keep your hands in at all times. But you can use them after.😉

[@jimgrimm8541]

So many things done wrong here lol

[@gregoryfortenberry741]

Never, I mean ever, stick arms outside the cage, very lucky didn’t lose an arm

[@karaburch7611]

If you have a problem keeping your hands in the cockpit, you might want to invest in some arm restraints. $50 might save your arms one day.🤔

[@shanemcdonald520]

Keep your hands inside the car… that way you get to keep your hands… lol jk

[@johnnyboi8876]

She should have pulled in the moment she got off the corner, not drift up into the raving line sticking her hand out, she should use her brain next time...

[@Corky3D]

Looked like she planned on still racing, there's not much you can do when the car shuts off all the sudden. Sticking the arm out can help a lot to signal you have a problem, the other cars were just to close to see it in time. Also have you ever race a car in your life? I don't mean the unrealistic iRacing, i mean an actual car.

[@johnnyboi8876]

@@Corky3D yes I race a micro and I know if I did that you’d have the guy come up to you and get in your face because you ruined his race too…

[@Corky3D]

@@johnnyboi8876 Her car literally died 2 seconds before impact. Her car is off, before she even gets close to throwing her hand out the side of the car. There is nothing she could do at that point. She can't hit the gas and turn down the track. Engine is off. Her car didn't all the sudden get straight, because she hit the brake. It's because it shut off. Also she didn't move up the track, she held her line. Her car straightened up in the same line. Which is why i'm, now questioning if you actually do race a car.

[@markfehrenbach4204]

Not that easy Johnny Boy, car dies in a corner you don't have many options. She was trying to let the other racers know she had trouble, unfortunately nothing else she could do. In racing anything can hapoen.

[@haydenallen459]

when she got hit and that car flipped she should’ve at the very least hit the brakes to keep from rolling. but i dont know she could’ve been scared senseless

[@chrisbennett2374]

Stop racing

[@shelbylynnmcphearson6541]

Should never be able to get your arm out that far