Christian recovering from major Mini Stock accident
Press release from New London-Waterford Speedbowl
WATERFORD —New London-Waterford Speedbowl Mini Stock Jake Christian says he’s sore, but he suffered no broken bones as a result of his major crash during Saturday’s 25-lap feature.
“I’m definitely sore, but other than that, I’m okay,” Christian said Monday. “Once I got to the hospital after the wreck, I found out there was nothing broken, I do have contusions on one side of my body. My knee is still swollen and I had one or two stitches in my knee. And I have strained muscles on one side of my body. It was just an overwhelming experience.”
Christian had the lead with three laps remaining in the feature when his car and the car of second place driver Charles Canfield came together. Christian’s car was in a vulnerable position in the middle of the track when it got hit by the car of onrushing Steve Michalski, wiping out Christian’s car.
“As soon as I got access to a cell phone, I shot Charles Canfield a message,” Christian said. “That accident was almost 100 percent my fault because of the mistakes I made. I came up a little too much on the track and our tires made contact.
“We are still on good terms and he wished me a speedy recovery.
Andrew Krzeminski wound up with his first career win while Charles Canfield recovered to finish second and move into the point lead by five points over Doug Curry.
Christian also said Michalski was not at fault for his part of the incident.
“He went to my trailer after the race, but I was already at the hospital,” Christian said. He had nowhere to go. It definitely was not his fault.
“I thought the majority of cars had gotten by me, and I kind of lost my focus. I was just about to put my window net down when I got hit. Maybe that’s why it hurt so bad.”
One of the factors that helped Christian avoid serious injury was the fact that his No. 59 Mini Stock was so solidly built.
“My Uncle Rick built the chassis on this car and it’s a tough car,” Christian said. “Earlier in the night, Ian Brew was involved in a similar hit. And Ian’s car was completely destroyed. My car is very fixable. That’s a tribute to how well it was built.”
Christian, however, is planning on taking off the final three races of the season.
“And then we’re going to come back stronger next year and go for the track championship,” Christian said.
Despite the season’s unhappy ending, Christian called the season “the biggest learning experience in my life.”
He said his bother Ray, who competes in ACT Late Models as well as Super Late Models, hasn’t been around as much as he usually is.
“That made it hard for him to teach me everything he knows, which he usually does,” Christian said. “All things considered, this was a good year.”
Even though that year did have an abrupt ending.
Contact Mike Serluca at mikes@speedbowl.com
Photos courtesy of Passingbird Photography
