“We Do Want Answers”: After Miraculous Recovery From Horrific Wreck, Chili Bowl Driver Ashton Torgerson’s Father Reveals “Number One Priority”

Racing is risky, and these are risks that drivers weigh and consider before joining the sport as professionals. However, this doesn’t preclude incidents like those at the Chili Bowl from causing fear and concern. What happened with Ashton Torgerson was one of the scariest incidents that the motorsport world has seen in recent times. Trigger warning: the video of the accident is not for the faint-hearted.

7 days of the Chili Bowl Nationals was something all fans had been eagerly waiting for. After months of no real racing action, the Tulsa-based midget car racing event was supposed to breathe life into the season. Add to that the whole Kyle Larson-Christopher Bell-Emmett Hahn controversy and fans had extra incentive to watch.

Witnessing pure horror as a father

Things started on a really bad note. The Prelims Night held on Wednesday saw a terrifying crash involving 16-year-old rookie, Ashton Torgerson. Torgerson first crashed into the barriers, before his car somersaulted multiple times.

The violent flips led to his violent ejection with his head being “sandwiched” between the track and the car. Torgerson, however, was able to come out for a press conference with his father yesterday. The fact that he was able to walk and speak was nothing short of a miracle.

Danny Torgerson, his father, told the media, “Obviously, his health was our number one priority here. We know, he went out, the belts were tight. In racing, sometimes, things do happen. I think, if anyone says they know what happened, it’s 100 percent speculation, guesswork.”

Racing America further reported him as stating, “I’ll be honest, I’m not 100 percent concerned about that right now. I’m happy that he’s here. There will be a time to look at that and understand what happened. I would never want that to happen to him or anyone else.”

Danny also commented on one of the biggest points of discussion since that horrific incident—the seat belts. He said, “We want to see if there is anything that could have caught the belts. We do want answers, we do need those answers.”

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What does Ashton remember from his Chili Bowl night?

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It was a very emotional press conference. Danny was still shaken having witnessed his son go through the ordeal. “Sitting next to my son here today, it’s amazing. It’s not what I expected after what I saw,” he said before looking over at Ashton, “I love you very much.”

But for young Ashton, the memories aren’t so clear. He told the media that he only remembers pre-race and the time in the hospital. “I don’t remember anything after the green flag. Obviously, it was a very bad wreck. I remember being checked on at the hospital and asking me what hurt. I haven’t seen it yet. I don’t think I want to. I heard it was a pretty bad one.”

He was asked the obvious question—what about the future? Ashton said, “I am still pretty sore. For what happened, how the wreck was and happened I am glad there is no broken bones. Doctors are saying to take it easy.

“No phone, no TV, no school work. Take it easy on the head. I have to follow up with the doctors when I get home and they will tell me how long it will be before I can get in a race car.”

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Incidents like these are what create the greatest fear—not only for drivers and their families but for organizers as well. It warrants a close inspection, and hopefully, nothing similar gets repeated in the future.