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Grassroots racer owes life to safety equipment after scary VIR flip

A friend of mine was involved in a terrifying crash at Virginia International Raceway last weekend. He’s alive because of the safety equipment that he invested in.

During a qualifying session for the NASA Midatlantic’s Hyperfest Event on Saturday, May 20, the rear trailing arm pocket failed on DJ Fitzpatrick’s Mach V Motorsports 2001 BMW M3 on the run down to Oak Tree at over 100 mph.

The failure sent Fitzpatrick’s BMW skyward and his car was launched into a frightening roll before coming to a rest in the grass.

Fitzpatrick was able to walk out under his own power, but things could have been a lot worse had he not been using the proper safety equipment.