North Carolina’s Bowman Gray Stadium has seen some of the weirdest and wildest races in the world of auto racing, but Saturday might have been a new peak (or low).
Driving the No. 8 car in a 20-lap street stock race, Kyler Staley was a step ahead of Brad Lewis in the final stretch and seemingly about to win, when his father decided to help out. Sitting far enough behind the leaders to be just ahead of the finish line, Zack Staley slowed down in front of Lewis to try to swing the result.
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It didn’t work out. It was actually Kyler who slowed down more, while Lewis surged between father and son for the win. And then it got stupid.
Lewis’ daughter Emilee had been trailing behind the leaders in the final lap and apparently didn’t appreciate Zack Staley’s attempt to sabotage her father, as she drove straight into him and spun him out after crossing the finish line.
Both of the Staleys were visibly livid. When Brad Lewis was given the checkered flag as the winner, Kyler ran out of his car to confront him, but Lewis just drove away. Kyler got into it with Emilee Lewis, and then Zack ran across the infield and jump-kicked the windshield of her car in a scene straight out of “Talladega Nights.”
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After the kick, Zack started ripping up the hood until the police intervened. As he walked away, he issued a middle-finger salute behind him. Then his son climbed on his own car and did the same.
The official results were Brad Lewis first, Kyler Staley second, Emilee Lewis third and Zack Staley 14th in a 21-car race. It is unclear what consequences await the drivers involved.
