Carson Ferguson survived a brutal wreck on the opening lap of Friday’s night preliminary feature for The Dream at Eldora Speedway and he shared what caused it.
Following a restart due to a wreck involving Tristan Chamberlain and Frank Heckenast Jr., Ferguson attempted to run the middle of the track and drift up to the cushion exiting turn 2. However, his right rear bounced off the cushion as he was exiting the corner and it whipped his car around. His right front then hit the cushion and the car began to barrel roll. As he was on his roof, Bobby Pierce would make contact with his left rear and spin the car so it was perpendicular to the track.
With the car exposed, Chris Simpson, who was running the top of the corner had nowhere to go and piled into Ferguson making direct contact with Ferguson’s roof. The result was two cars that looked like they had been run over by monster trucks at a Monster Jam.
😮 Carson Ferguson flips before getting hit hard by Chris Simpson in a frightening crash at @EldoraSpeedway.
Both drivers are okay after this incident in the #DLMDream Thursday make-up feature. pic.twitter.com/gGndx2vEjm
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) June 7, 2025
Ferguson exited the car, but was clearly winded from the wreck. However, he made it clear that he was okay.
He then explained what happened to FloRacing following the race, “Everybody knows how important air is here. Me and Wil were trying to beat each other to the cushion there in 1 and 2 so we could get a good launch off of 2. The way I entered I didn’t really give myself an escape route if he was to clear me, and he did. I thought I was far enough up on him that I could beat him, you know, turn in tight on him. I just didn’t get my angle right into 1 and then like I said just carrying too much speed. I don’t think it matters what angle you hit the cushion at at that point. Like I said I didn’t give myself an escape route.”
He later added, “It wasn’t that bad of a rollover, but Simpson didn’t have nowhere to go. I saw his nose coming there at the last second. I got to thank Longhorn Chassis. They kept me safe. They built a safe race car. Everything did it’s job. Victory Seats. Bell Helmets. Hooker Harness. Everything did it’s job.”
When asked what went through his mind when he saw Simpson coming, Ferguson responded, “I didn’t really have that much time to think once I saw it. I could see the ground and I was kinda looking that and all of a sudden I saw a nose and everything happened so quick. I hope Simpson’s alright. He was favoring one of his feet, you know, in there in the infield care center. So hope he’s alright.”
Ferguson will be back in action in a backup car tonight. Paylor Motorsports shared on X, “Paylor Motorsports will unload the backup car for tonight’s Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway. After the serious flip in last night’s prelim feature, Carson Ferguson will roll from the inside of the fourth row in heat race #5 later this evening. Hot laps are at 5:30pm.”
He’ll be competing against Austin Smith, Chris Madden, Dale McDowell, Ricky Thornton Jr., Tanner English, Mike Marlar, Devin Moran, Jason Jameson, Carson Brown, Clay Harris, Mason Zeigler, Justin Cooper, Dennis Erb Jr., and Ryan Payne.
Paylor Motorsports will unload the backup car for tonight’s Dirt Late Model Dream at @EldoraSpeedway. After the serious flip in last night’s prelim feature, @carsonferguson will roll off from the inside of the fourth row in heat race #5 later this evening. Hot laps are at 5:30pm. pic.twitter.com/jGyvZLDVWW
— Paylor Motorsports (@PaylorMotorsprt) June 7, 2025