(Video credit: GRS1 Motorsports Facebook page) – Video has been released of the violent crash that hospitalized Billy Glidden yesterday. You will see his retro wrapped Mustang come off the starting line in Orlando, shake/smoke the tires and make as violent a move as you will ever see to the right. The car actually gets up on two wheels before smashing the wall. After the first hit the car comes across the track and crashes the driver’s side hard on the opposite wall. The parachute deploys shortly after that hit and the car slowly rolls to a stop. Glidden was reportedly unconscious during some of the wreck (perhaps after the initial hit?) and came to as the safety people were pulling up to render assistance.
The most scary and hard to swallow part of this video is hearing Shannon screaming Billy’s name into the radio communication head set that they typically use to line the car up and make adjustments on the starting line. Billy was obviously not answering her as she was making those desperate pleas for him to answer her. This is truly tough.
The latest update on Billy that we have heard suggests that he will not need surgery and that he has been able to get out of bed. He is very sore, has multiple broken ribs, and will likely be a hurting unit for some time. We do not know how much of the car had to be cut to get him out but we have verified that tubing was removed to safely remove him from the car.
Tough stuff all around.
that left lane hit was solid. Glad he is on the road to recovery.
Prayers to Billy!! He looks to have been conscious until he hit left wall as the front wheels were turned right, full-lock.
I wish he would have gotten out and covered the engine with his coat …Prayer’s to the Glidden family for a speedy recovery
may god bless-Mr. Billy and his family and I pray for a speedy recovery so he can get back to doing what he loves to do
Absolutely bone chilling hearing Shannon trying to get him to answer her over the 2-way radio. Can’t imagine what was going through her mind. Glad he’s gonna be okay.
That was certainly a bad hit on the left. I hope the ribs heal quickly and the car is fixable. Using his dad’s Pinto/ Mustang II/ Monza/ Thunderbolt/ 70 Mustang paint scheme is very cool.
Prayers Up for Billy and Shannon too…gotta Fairmont you can play with until you get the Mustang back up and running.
Being ourselves a small team, on a tight budget, I can’t imagine what was going through Shannon’s mind, and I hope and pray, not only for Billy’s recovery, but that he can get back to doing what he loves.
That second hit was a hard one.
Godspeed in healing….
They only cut the X bar on the drivers side to get him out.
My prayers go out to Billie Glidden! and all of the Glidden family!
Prayers for Billy and family! The next thing I think of is Larry Morgan getting in one of those monsters. Seems like everyone has had a tough ride lately.
That Ambulance wasnt even on site took to long to get there
DAVE LOOK AGAIN AMBULANCE WAS ON THE MOVE BEFORE COME TO REST BILLY GET WELL SOON YOU ARE MISS ALREADY
That is exactly what I was thinking… and he took forever to take any action to tend to the driver.. Then he ran to the passengers side door of the ambulance before that! I can’t stand the way track “safety” is these days.
My thoughts to both Billy and Shannon, heal quickly!
Hope you have a full and speedy recovery Billy…!!!
Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery…!!!
Prayers for a speedy recovery!!!
track safety looked spot on to me! don’t really want to start moving a knocked out drive right away in this case, no fuel, no fire and so on. possible head and neck injury, need to stay cool and make the right moves!!
Hope he’s ok he’s a great guy …by the way what came out from under the car before he hit the first time?
Hope your feeling well and a speedy recovery take care
Watch the entire video, at the end you see the ambulance is moving. Some tracks have access points, many do not. Therefore, rescue vehicles must stage down track. Because vehicles and debris have shot over retaining walls and debris has injured attendees. Teams stage away from the track so as not to become a victim as well. Also, entry and perspective, release mechanisms are easier to articulate on the right side. EMTs can even train and communicate as to who does what. We don’t see the full deal. Prayers for the entire Glidden family, those attending the event.
Track personal did a great job. It sucks but after the first hit kills the suspension the driver is just along for the ride. Glad he is ok. His dad has been in worst accidents
For all those who love concrete guardrails.