Mike Cluka, crew member for Tristar Motorsports and the #19 car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series was severly burned in an accident at the teams race shop last Tuesday, August 23 as the team prepared for the Bristol race weekend. Cluka is a NASCAR series veteran crew member, shock specialist and former front-tire changer and was the last shock specialist and front-tire changer for the late Dale Earnhardt. Cluka wanted to pass along a message of warning to all crew members at all levels of racing: “I’m very lucky to be alive today. I want all crew members to be very aware of cordless drills and impacts. I got severly burned, receiving 2nd degree burns on my face, arms and neck. I was simply tightening a hose clamp on our fuel cell vent when the drill motor sparked and ignited vapors, causing a huge blue flash and fire.” Cluka is resting at home in Kannapolis, NC as he continues to recover from his injuries.(Weber Sports Marketing)(8-30-2011)
UPDATE: Although Mike Cluka is still healing, he has been cleared by the doctors and is back to work at TriStar Motorsports and will be with the team this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.(TMR)(8-31-2011)
