Chase Shaffer, a crew member for Ethan Dotson and the ASD Motorsports team, shared that he was knocked out while servicing the car in the hot pit during the Fall Classic at Whynot.
Ethan Dotson via ASD Motorsports on X
In a post to X, Shaffer shared, “Took a pretty good shot to the dome last night while we had our car pulled off in the hot pit. One minute I’m standing next to the car then the lights went out and I came back around in the hospital.”
He added, “Dr says no brain damage or bleeding. Still sore and dizzy but I’ll be alright.”
Chase Shaffer on X
During an appearance on the Racin Jason, Brian and Smoke talk dirt racing!! space on X, Shaffer provided more details and revealed he would not be joining the team this weekend at East Alabama Motor Speedway for the National 100.
When asked what happened, he said, “Well, Ethan was battling for a transfer spot in that B-Main at Whynot, and got in the wall somehow, and it tore the right front on the car. So he pulled off. The deck was all shot. And we were just standing there in the hot pit putting a right front on it to just get it back to the trailer. And to be honest, that’s the last thing I remember. And then I woke up in the hospital.”
He continued, “This was Saturday night. I don’t know what happened. But what I’m told is something flew off the track and hit me in the back of the head. I didn’t come to until I was in the hospital. They said I locked up pretty hard when I got hit. I’m actually trying to find a doctor here by the house where I can go get a follow-up and make sure my brain didn’t get scrambled too bad. At the hospital in Meridian they said, ‘Well, you ain’t got no brain bleed and it doesn’t look like you got any serious brain damage so we’re gonna let you out.’ My poor wife had to drive from Birmingham to come pick me up in Meridian. We didn’t get home until about 3 in the morning. Fortunately, the guys at ASD really helped me out and took care of me, getting my car back and everything, and getting my stuff.”
Ethan Dotson via ASD Motorsports on X
Next, he shared, “That was the crazy thing. We were outside the track. If you’ve ever been to Whynot, you’re in that hot pit area right there by the grid. So of all the places I wasn’t expected to get KO’d. I’m not sure. Tyler said something flew off the track and it hit me and he thinks its a mud clod because it shattered and then hit him, he says. By the time it hit him, he looked over and I was on the ground and I guess I wasn’t in good shape.”
“They were asking me questions at the hospital and according to Tyler I didn’t even know my own name for a minute,” he added.
Next, he shared why he would not be joining ASD and Dotson at East Alabama, “My wife has forcefully requested that I take this weekend off. So I won’t be going to the National 100.” However, he did indicate he was likely to return to the team for the World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.
Ethan Dotson via ASD Motorsports on X
Dotson had a strong showing at Whynot and picked up a win on Friday night. As noted below, he will be racing both Saturday and Sunday night for National 100 at East Alabama Motor Speedway.
National 100 Week!
After an up and down weekend at Whynot which saw @ethandotson74 pick up the win on Friday night, the team will now shift its focus to one of the south’s biggest and most prestigious events!
Ethan will be racing both Saturday and Sunday Night at @EAMSdirt! pic.twitter.com/ijH9nKmMRj
— ASD Motorsports (@ASDMotorsports) October 29, 2024