NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla.---Gladstone teenager Jordan Ives was involved in a scary crash on Saturday in Florida as he practiced for a Super Late Model Series race that is part of the "Speedweek" events in the Daytona area.
Ives crashed his #18 car into the wall at the New Smyrna Speedway, and the car burst into flames, sending a large plume of smoke that rose high above the race track.
In an interview with RRN Sports.com, Ives described what happened.
"We came into Corner Three and we lost our brakes," Ives said. "I spun the car around and backed it into the wall. When I backed it into the wall, it split the fuel cell open. The car burst into flames. There was flames everywhere, coming through the windows."Ives called it a very scary moment, and he knew that he had to move fast.
"I had to get myself out," he said. "Once I got out, I looked back, and the whole car was just engulfed in flames. Once they got the fire out, there was nothing left but the frame."
Ives said that once he realized that he was OK, he started to feel sad.
"You put all of your blood and sweat into working on that thing, and it's just gone in three minutes," Ives said. "And so we're done. I don't have any other cars here. We only brought one, hoping that we'd make it through and take it easy. Unfortunately, this happened."
Ives says that his only injuries were some burnt hair and eyebrows. And while this was a major disappointment for the 16-year-old, he says he's ready to start racing again.
"We'll get another car going and we'll get back out there," Ives said. "Hopefully, in the next month or so."
Ives' accident drew national attention on Saturday because his uncle, Bark River native Greg Ives, is the NASCAR crew chief for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Jordan Ives moved from Gladstone to North Carolina last fall to live with his uncle and continue racing.
Ives had competed well in Friday night's event in Florida, finishing 12th in the race that was part of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.
More pictures of Ives' accident are posted at www.speed51.com .
Ives crashed his #18 car into the wall at the New Smyrna Speedway, and the car burst into flames, sending a large plume of smoke that rose high above the race track.
In an interview with RRN Sports.com, Ives described what happened.
"We came into Corner Three and we lost our brakes," Ives said. "I spun the car around and backed it into the wall. When I backed it into the wall, it split the fuel cell open. The car burst into flames. There was flames everywhere, coming through the windows."Ives called it a very scary moment, and he knew that he had to move fast.
Jordan Ives Interview From Florida
Ives said that once he realized that he was OK, he started to feel sad.
"You put all of your blood and sweat into working on that thing, and it's just gone in three minutes," Ives said. "And so we're done. I don't have any other cars here. We only brought one, hoping that we'd make it through and take it easy. Unfortunately, this happened."
Ives says that his only injuries were some burnt hair and eyebrows. And while this was a major disappointment for the 16-year-old, he says he's ready to start racing again.
"We'll get another car going and we'll get back out there," Ives said. "Hopefully, in the next month or so."
Ives' accident drew national attention on Saturday because his uncle, Bark River native Greg Ives, is the NASCAR crew chief for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Jordan Ives moved from Gladstone to North Carolina last fall to live with his uncle and continue racing.
Ives had competed well in Friday night's event in Florida, finishing 12th in the race that was part of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.
More pictures of Ives' accident are posted at www.speed51.com .
