FT. WORTH, Tex. - Rookie Michael McDowell walked away from one of the most terrifying crashes in recent memory during Friday's Sprint Cup Series qualifying session at Texas Motor Speedway.
McDowell's Michael Waltrip Racing No. 00 slammed hard into the first turn wall during his qualifying attempt for the Samsung 500 field. The impact into the SAFER Barrier wall sent his Toyota through a series of violent barrel rolls down the track's banking before finally coming to rest.
Almost instantly McDowell climbed from the car unhurt and waved to the crowd which roared its approval.
“I feel great, nothing broke,” McDowell said. “I didn’t lose consciousness. I felt every roll down the hill.”
McDowell's run came after the session was stopped for oil on the track when David Gilliland blew an engine during his qualifying effort.
"For me to walk away from that wreck is unbelievable,” McDowell said. “I’m going to count my blessings tonight and thank God for this opportunity to walk away from that wreck.”
The accident capped an eventful week for the 23-year-old rookie who was involved in a war of words and subsequent apologies with Jeff Burton after last week's Martinsville race.
Track officials worked to repair the wall during a more than one hour delay.
"I was just mad," McDowell said of his thoughts during the horrifying accident. "I made some people mad last weekend and now here we are this weekend holding up qualifying."
