National Trans Am Series podium finisher Owen Kelly fought back tears as he paid tribute to a fellow racer in the wake of a bone-breaking crash.
Speedway racer Adrian Redpath was competing at Carrick Speedway near Launceston on Saturday when he was involved in a sizable incident.
Redpath was taken to Royal Hobart Hospital with fractures to his back, ribs, and sternum among a long list of injuries.
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Kelly’s tribute came after race two of the National Trans Am Series in which he finished second to Garry Rogers Motorsport teammate James Moffat.
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“I want to give a shoutout to our buddy Adrian Redpath,” said an emotional Kelly.
“Had a bad crash last night and I hope he’s all right.”
A statement from Sprintcars Tasmania and shared by Carrick Speedway read in part, “The Redpath family asked me to thank everyone for their well wishes and thoughts.
“Adrain has some broken ribs, broken sternum, punctured lung, and some fractures in his lower spine, and currently in surgery in the Royal Hobart Hospital.
“Our thoughts are with the entire Redpath family this time.”
The second National Trans Am Series race of the weekend was brought to a premature end when James Simpson rolled his car after contact with the slowed car of Ben Grice.
Grice had been leading the race when his car suddenly slowed. He was taken to hospital for precautionary checks afterwards.
Moffat inherited the race lead and with it won his second straight race. Kelly was second with fellow teammate Lochie Dalton third.
The third and final race of the weekend was once again taken out by Moffat.
Kelly made a mistake early in the piece and fell off the road at the final turn. That gave Dalton second place and series debutant Jaylyn Robotham third.
The National Trans Am Series returns at Phillip Island for round two on May 12-14.
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