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Driver in critical condition following accident at 24 Raceway in Moberly
By Chuck Embree/MI Sports Editor
A Quincy, Ill. driver of a vehicle that was involved in an accident while racing at 24 Raceway in Moberly on Sept. 20 remains in critical condition at University Medical Center in Columbia reported a hospital spokesperson on Thursday.
Rodney Gower, 20, was the driver of a car competing in the B-Modified heat race when his vehicle got caught in the fender of a competitor, causing his car to overturn several times near the start/finish line on the main stretch of the track.
The incident was one of four wrecks that took place at the dirt track speedway and was the most serious.
"His car did at least three barrel-rolls high in the air along the front stretch, shedding a lot of the car's sheet metal and landing on the wheels, said Ron Lueck, 24 Raceway in Moberly spokesperson on Thursday. " Rodney lost his helmet sometime during the rolls. The emergency crew along with personnel from the Randolph County Ambulance District stationed along the front stretch was there immediately and had to cut the top off the roll cage of the car to remove him."
Gower was first taken to Moberly Regional Medical Center and then was transported by helicopter to Columbia where he was transported for brain trauma said Lueck.
His father, Joe Gower, a car businessman also from Quincy, was stationed on top of the car hauler near turn 3, and had to climb down from it to sprint across the infield to the scene.
"Before he arrived at the scene, Joe collapsed on the track and was thought to be having a heart attack. He was transported by a second ambulance to MRMC, only to be released from Moberly Regional Medical Center after being checked out and determined to have had complications, mainly due to anxiety over the accident," said Lueck. " Joe was then driven by his wife, Jana, to the University Hospital in Columbia to be with their son. As an update, Joe is doing fine."
Lueck said a goodwill love offering for the Gower family will be accepted during the races held Sept. 27, which happens to be the first evening of racing for the 5-week fall season.
Monies will be used to help offset medical expenses incurred by the family said Lueck. Checks can be made payable to Joe's Auto Sales with the memo "Rodney Gower fund".
By Chuck Embree/MI Sports Editor
A Quincy, Ill. driver of a vehicle that was involved in an accident while racing at 24 Raceway in Moberly on Sept. 20 remains in critical condition at University Medical Center in Columbia reported a hospital spokesperson on Thursday.
Rodney Gower, 20, was the driver of a car competing in the B-Modified heat race when his vehicle got caught in the fender of a competitor, causing his car to overturn several times near the start/finish line on the main stretch of the track.
The incident was one of four wrecks that took place at the dirt track speedway and was the most serious.
"His car did at least three barrel-rolls high in the air along the front stretch, shedding a lot of the car's sheet metal and landing on the wheels, said Ron Lueck, 24 Raceway in Moberly spokesperson on Thursday. " Rodney lost his helmet sometime during the rolls. The emergency crew along with personnel from the Randolph County Ambulance District stationed along the front stretch was there immediately and had to cut the top off the roll cage of the car to remove him."
Gower was first taken to Moberly Regional Medical Center and then was transported by helicopter to Columbia where he was transported for brain trauma said Lueck.
His father, Joe Gower, a car businessman also from Quincy, was stationed on top of the car hauler near turn 3, and had to climb down from it to sprint across the infield to the scene.
"Before he arrived at the scene, Joe collapsed on the track and was thought to be having a heart attack. He was transported by a second ambulance to MRMC, only to be released from Moberly Regional Medical Center after being checked out and determined to have had complications, mainly due to anxiety over the accident," said Lueck. " Joe was then driven by his wife, Jana, to the University Hospital in Columbia to be with their son. As an update, Joe is doing fine."
Lueck said a goodwill love offering for the Gower family will be accepted during the races held Sept. 27, which happens to be the first evening of racing for the 5-week fall season.
Monies will be used to help offset medical expenses incurred by the family said Lueck. Checks can be made payable to Joe's Auto Sales with the memo "Rodney Gower fund".
