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| Photo ID # | V12.30.25___A_MIC_BPT_0080D_1 |
| Car #: | #A |
| Driver (s) : | Al Michalchuk |
| Location: | Bridgeport Speedway |
| Date: | 1987 or 1988? |
| Photographer: | Unsure |
| Photo provided by: | Unsure (possibly Michalchuk Collection?) |
| Comments: |
Comment: I don't remember the year, but after talking to
friend of The Vault Mark Yaple, I'm pretty sure it was the last day of the
season at Bridgeport, and Al had a great starting spot on the outside
of row 2 I think as they came down for the initial green on his heat race.
At least I thought it was a great starting spot until the guy on the inside
of him (I don't remember the driver's name but I think it was a #20) lost control about 3/4's down the front stretch and headed for the
infield, and then over corrected, coming straight back across the track
toward the outside guardrail, driving straight into the left front of the
#A. I don't know if Al had time to lift, and don't think it would have
mattered as his car instantly went to the right, up over the guardrail,
snapping off a light pole. rolling over a few times, before coming to rest
outside of the speedway, just at the beginning of turn 1 (back when the
track was 5/8th.)
I remember running down there from my grandstand seat and being one of the first on the scene and was relieved to see Al already out of the car, taking off his helmet. I think I yelled "You OK?" and he just nodded, and kind of shrugged... looking over the now heavily damaged racecar. You think I would have been used to it, having been an Al Michalchuk fan since 1972...
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