North Carolina Governor Mike Easley, who was turning practice laps in a Winston Cup car at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Friday morning, lost control of the car while exiting Turn 2 and wrecked on the backstretch. Easley was not injured, speedways officials confirmed. The accident occurred about 11:45am.et and Easley’s car – a #48 Chevy from Hendrick Motorsports – was the only car on the track at the time. Easley was wearing the HANS device, one of two head-and-neck restraint systems mandated by NASCAR in October 2001. After the wreck, Easley stood by the car joking with his staff and track officials and even autographed the crumpled car before it was towed away. Easley drove two laps behind the pace cars for two parade laps before last October’s Winston Cup race at Charlotte. He’d planned to run three laps in honor of the late Dale Earnhardt, but a rain delay and damp track conditions spoiled those plans. Easley was at the track Friday to practice in preparation of reprising that role during May race activities at the speedway.( ThatsRacin.com ) AND A close call this morning for North Carolina Governor Mike Easley at Lowes Motor Speedway. Driving an old Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowes Chevy The Governor lost the handle coming out of turn 2 then crashed.along the backstretch wall while practicing for a pre-race event for The Winston All-Star race next weekend. Easley, who was clocked at just over 165 miles per hour when the accident occured was not injured. After autographing pieces of the wrecked car he continued his pace laps in an old Terry Labonte #5 Kelloggs Monte Carlo.( PRN’s Garage Pass )(5-9-2003)
