Marty Carrier debuted his new 604 late model during the Bristol Dirt Nationals. Unfortunately, the car didn’t make it through a lap of competition before getting destroyed in its first heat race.
“Guys are trying to win a race on freakin’ lap one,” Carrier, 55, of Stanford, Kentucky, said. “The dude ran over me. After he run over me, it got me turned, and he flipped me.”
Carrier steered a 2013 Blue Gray Rocket Chassis that its previous owner never put together. Carrier and his team finished the car at the track last weekend.
“For the Saturday practice session, the only thing [setup-wise] we had done was the toe,” said Carrier. “[We hadn’t done] camber, caster, ride heights, percentages, or even have the shocks smashed.”
His team finished setting up the car on Monday, in preparation for Tuesday’s 604 heats and feature.
“It was a sweet car, with the few laps I got to turn on it,” Carrier said. “Everything on that car was brand-new, except the motor and transmission. It was like driving a Cadillac.”
Carrier sat in a full-containment seat from ButlerBuilt, with a Simpson five-point harness. He wore a Simpson helmet, with a Simpson Hybrid Pro.
The rollover did not injure Carrier. However, Carrier deemed his car a total loss, with the exception of its engine, which still runs.
“It didn’t feel violent,” said Carrier of the accident. “It was like being on a fair ride.”
Last year, Carrier had returned behind the wheel after an extended absence.
“Thirty-five years ago, I had a mini stock, working nights, and didn’t have any money,” Carrier said. “When Covid hit, I could pull from retirement with no penalty. I told my wife, ‘I’m going to fulfill my dream.’ So, I built me a shop and got me some cars.”
Despite the abrupt ending to his week, Marty Carrier still enjoyed his experience.
“I’ve had a blast,” said Carrier. “[After the accident,] my wife’s like, ‘He’s getting out of a destroyed race car and he’s holding his hands up like he’s in victory lane?!’ I’ll be back next time.”
Photo Credit: J.A. Ackley
The Outside Groove Executive Editor has covered motorsports since 2000. His many awards include the 2019 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Jim Hunter Writer of the Year and the 2013 Russ Catlin Award for Excellence in Motorsports Journalism.
