UPDATE: Stewart-Haas Racing has released a statement on Xfinity Series engineer DJ VanderLey, who was injured in a micro sprint race Thursday night at the TMS dirt oval.
“DJ VanderLey, an engineer at Stewart-Haas Racing, sustained injuries in an on-track racing accident late Thursday night while competing in a micro spring Outlaw division race on the Lil’ Texas Motor Speedway dirt oval in Fort Worth, Texas. The 30-year-old from Mooresville, North Carolina, was transported to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Forth Worth for further evaluation and medical care. Due to HIPAA regulations, Stewart-Haas Racing is not permitted to release further details on VanderLey’s condition at this time. Friends and family have established a GoFundMe page to support VanderLey. The thoughts of everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing are with VanderLey and his family during this difficult time and all are praying for his recovery.
DJ VanderLey, who serves as the race engineer of Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 98 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, has been injured in a serious accident while competing in a dirt event at Lil’ Texas Motor Speedway on Thursday.
On Friday, DJ’s wife, Jordan, shared an update about his condition on her Facebook page.
The update reads, as such: “Daren [DJ] VanderLey was involved in a terrible accident during a race at Texas Motor Speedway. He was flight lifted to a hospital in Fort Worth, where he is currently still in surgery. He has several fractured vertebrae and a spinal cord injury. We won’t know the extent of the damage until later.
“He has been in surgery the past seven hours, and pray the Lord is guiding the surgeon’s hands. We are asking that you lift our family in prayers for a miracle during this difficult time. We have been so blessed with our racing family, who are moving mountains to support us.”
Since the accident on Thursday, a GoFundMe Page has been created – by Austin Quick – in hopes of raising money to assist the VanderLey family with the costs that will be incurred throughout DJ’s recovery. As of Friday evening, another GoFundMe Page has been created – by Shelby Cantrell.
GoFundMe Page – “DJ Vanderley Recovery Fund” (DONATE HERE)
GoFundMe Page – VanderLey Medical Bills (DONATE HERE)
At the time of publishing, the GoFundMe Page for VanderLey’s recovery had already raised $4,322 of the $20,000 goal, with several people within in the NASCAR Community donating to, and sharing the campaign on social media.
Richard Boswell – crew chief of Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 98 team – shared the GoFundMe Page on Twitter, alongside a heartfelt message, saying:
“DJ is the engineer on our 98 team and could use our help. He is an unbelievable engineer, racer, and works his tail off. If you have the ability to help in any way, please do so. Please pray hard for DJ, his wife Jordan, and the rest of his family.”
DJ is the engineer on our 98 team and could use our help. He is an unbelievable engineer, racer and works his tail off. If you have the ability to help in any way, please do so.
Please pray hard for DJ, his wife Jordan and rest of his family!!https://t.co/YrhW7AqsDh
— Richard Boswell (@rboswell84) September 23, 2022
Similarly, Cole Custer, Chase Briscoe, and Riley Herbst, three drivers that have worked with VanderLey at Stewart-Haas Racing’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program, also shared the GoFundMe Page, as well as a message of their own, showing support of a fellow teammate.
“Sending thoughts and prayers out to DJ VanderLey and his family,” Custer said in a Tweet. “DJ Got in a bad wreck last night racing in Texas. Amazing guy and friend who helped me a lot racing Xfinity [at Stewart-Haas Racing]. A GoFundMe has started to help his recovery, all donations are welcome.”
Sending thoughts and prayers out to @DJVanderLey and his family. DJ got in a bad wreck last night racing in Texas. Amazing guy and friend who helped me a lot racing Xfinity @StewartHaasRcng
A GoFundMe has started to help his recovery, all donations are welcome?? pic.twitter.com/iNaP8fO8PO
— Cole Custer (@ColeCuster) September 23, 2022
Praying for my buddy @DJVanderLey. Send good thoughts and prayers his way. pic.twitter.com/rBUt6gGtnl
— Chase Briscoe (@ChaseBriscoe_14) September 23, 2022
Praying for my good buddy, and our engineer on the 98 car. ?
https://t.co/CaMWMeiuAX— Riley Herbst (@rileyherbst) September 23, 2022
Any additional updates – whether it be via the GoFundMe Page or VanderLey’s family or friends – will be added to this story, as they are received, if they are received.
