This is one of those videos that depicts the best possible outcome for a situation that could have potentially resulted in mass casualties at a motorsports event. The event is an indoor tractor pulling contest being held in a some type of small arena/pulling facility in Illinois. There are grandstands along the pulling course on both sides.
A Super Stock diesel tractor begins a pull and then suddenly launches one of the massive and very heavy rear tires down the course, sans tractor. Luckily, the tire does not get into the stands and hits a parked tractor at the end of the pulling course, takes flight, and smashes into the rear wall of the arena, nearly crashing through it.
A few years ago, I wrote a story for Diesel Power magazine on these tractors and I interviewed an engineer from Firestone about the huge tires on the tractors. They regularly see wheel speeds in excess of 150mph and Firestone spin tests the tires to 200mpg at their facility. I believe they weigh something like 500-600lbs a piece, so you can only imagine the stored energy in that thing when it gets up to speed and breaks loose.
Had this tire taken an odd bounce and gotten into the stands, there is no doubt scores of people would have been injured or killed. A lucky break that makes for some truly wild video!
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE THE BEST OUTCOME OF A SCARY SITUATION –
