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Is Ashton Torgerson OK? Teen racer ejected from vehicle as it hits wall and flips over at Chili Bowl Nationals

Chile Bowl Nationals informed that Torgerson was alert and communicating with track officials before being transported to a Tulsa hospital

TULSA, OKLAHOMA: The Chili Bowl Nationals witnessed a scary accident on Wednesday, January 11, when a 16-year-old racer was ejected from his vehicle after his car hit a wall and flipped several times.  Ashton Torgerson's vehicle crashed during the 11th lap of his first midget race when he was battling for a corner with another driver, The US Sun reported.

In Chili Bowl Nationals' A-Main Feature, Torgerson, who started on the outside of the first row, was running outside the top five when he collided with Kevin Thomas Jr, forcing him into the outside wall and causing his vehicle to flip on the backstretch. He was then ejected from his speeding car while it was flipping, sending the driver crashing into the dirt. Torgerson was in seventh place when the accident occurred.

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Chile Bowl Nationals informed in an official tweet that Torgerson, a resident of Medford, Oregon, was alert and communicating with track officials before being transported to a Tulsa hospital. The rally driver’s family informed The US Sun that Torgerson is waiting for the results of a CT scan. “The first thing he asked me was what place he was in,” they were quoted as saying. 

As per the latest information, Torgerson was alert and awake and was responsive to touch. "Ashton is awake and alert at the hospital. He has feeling in hands and feet and has passed his tests so far. He’s now going into scans," Peterson media quoted the Torgerson Racing family in a tweet. 

Prayers and well wishes have been pouring in for the teen racer from across the internet and the racing community. "Glad to hear Ashton Torgerson is awake and alert. Tonight was probably one of the scariest things I’ve seen happen at a motorsport event in my life. Crazy," Toby Christie of 'The Final Lap' weekly podcast tweeted. "Very happy to hear the good news from Ashton Torgerson’s camp after his super scary Chili Bowl crash. Sadly, I saw something similar while working at my local dirt track as a 12 year old in mid-80s. That crash replays in my mind to today as vividly as if it were yesterday," Patrick Stephan wrote. Fellow race car driver Rico Abreu, who picked up his 8th Chili Bowl Prelim win, also sent wishes to the 16-year-old Oregon racer. "Rollercoaster of emotions. First and foremost I want to send my thoughts and prayers to Ashton Torgerson. We’re one big family and we wish you a speedy recovery," Rico tweeted.