UPDATE 3: April 25, 2021 12:00 PM ET
Another update from Derrick Lancaster’s wife Elizabeth has come in, and there is positive news. Although Lancaster is still in critical but stable condition, doctors found no burns to the drivers trachea or lungs. He will remain on a ventilator for 48-72 hours to allow his lungs to recover and so the team can suction the soot out.
According to Elizabeth, the labs are looking better and better by the hour.
UPDATE 2: April 24, 2021 5:25 PM ET
Derrick Lancaster’s wife Elizabeth has posted an update to Facebook detailing that her husband is on a ventilator while the medical team checks on whether Lancaster suffered lung damage during the fiery crash at Talladega. According to her, he’ll be on the ventilator for at least 48 hours. Lancaster also suffered second to third degree burns on both arms, his neck and face.
No broken bones or internal bleeding have been found.
A second update on Derrick Lancaster from his wife: pic.twitter.com/S1pyP59Hqk
— The Pit Lane (@thepitlanearca) April 24, 2021
UPDATE 1: April 24, 2021 4:00 PM ET
The family of Derrick Lancaster have provided an update via social media. The driver has been airlifted to the University of Alabama Birmingham Burn Center for further treatment following Saturday’s scary crash in the ARCA Menards Series event at Talladega Superspeedway.
ORIGINAL STORY: April 24, 2021 3:15 PM ET
Derrick Lancaster looked poised to snag his career-best ARCA Menards Series finish in Saturday’s General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway. Then, with five laps to go, all hell broke loose.
While running inside the top-five, Lancaster, 48, was tapped by the duo of Drew Dollar and Corey Heim who were to his inside. This shot Lancaster’s No. 29 machine hard into the outside wall and it immediately erupted into flames.
5 laps to go: caution, and an immediate red flag for a fiery crash involving Derrick Lancaster
He is out of the car pic.twitter.com/Jhu0wMN9et
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) April 24, 2021
After skidding his car through the grass in order to come to a quick stop, Lancaster was able to climb from the car with assistance from the AMR Medical Team. After spending a few moments on his feet, Lancaster was transported on a stretcher to the infield care center.
After evaluation at the infield care center, Lancaster was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. No further update on his condition is available at this time.
Upon the hard impact on Saturday, worry immediately set in for Lancaster as he reportedly survived a basilar skull fracture in a late model event last year at Kingsport Speedway. Here was that vicious crash from last season:
— Jon Pittman (@JonPittman00) April 24, 2021
Saturday marked the Virginia-native’s seventh ARCA Menards Series start. His career-best finish is sixth, which he has achieved twice. This story will be updated when more news is known about Lancaster’s condition.
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