Adelaide 500 Stadium Super Trucks: Drivers walk away after crashes on day one of racing

Two drivers were lucky to walk away from a pair of fiery crashes which kickstarted the opening day of racing at the Adelaide 500 - but their actions were put under the spotlight – and a verdict reached.

Stadium Super Trucks have been allowed to resume on track at the Adelaide 500 – subject to extra precautions – after fronting Motorsport Australia stewards on Friday in the wake of Thursday’s carnage.

After two frightening crashes during their opening practice session, the high-flying support category was told to face a Motorsport Australia hearing on Friday and the trucks’ morning qualifying session was cancelled.

Thursday’s Stadium Super Trucks practice session was red-flagged twice after Shae Davies and Matt Mingay were both involved in scary incidents.

A piece of Mingay’s truck, which appeared to be the fuel cell, flew across the track in flames and was extinguished by track marshals after he crashed heavily into a concrete wall.

After the hearing, Motorsport Australia said stewards determined the category had met the technical requirements and was allowed to resume on track, subject to conditions.

Two drivers have walked away from spectacular crashes in the Stadium Super Trucks on the opening day of racing at the Adelaide 500. Picture: VAILO Adelaide 500

There have been enforced changes to the track with two jumps which preceded Thursday’s crashes removed.

“Motorsport Australia stewards conducted a hearing with Stadium Super Trucks, following Thursday’s incidents at the VAILO Adelaide 500,” MA said in a statement.

“At the conclusion of the hearing, Motorsport Australia stewards determined the Stadium Super Trucks met technical requirements and will resume on-track activity, subject to the removal of two jumps at turns 11 and 2, and subject to an additional track inspection.”

The Stadium Super Trucks returned to the track for a trouble-free qualifying session on Friday afternoon.

The trucks are scheduled to race once on Saturday and twice on Sunday.

The Stadium Super Trucks are making their return to the Adelaide 500 for the first time in four years and have travelled to Australia from the United States.

Investigation launched into fiery Adelaide 500 crashes

Stadium Super Trucks will face a Motorsport Australia hearing as the high-flying support category’s Friday qualifying session was cancelled after on-track carnage at the Adelaide 500 on Thursday.

Just minutes before the trucks were due on track for their qualifying session, Motorsport Australia confirmed the category would face a hearing with stewards on Friday afternoon after two separate frightening crashes in practice.

Thursday’s Stadium Super Trucks practice session was red-flagged twice after Shae Davies and Matt Mingay were both involved in scary smashes.

Of particular concern, a piece of Mingay’s truck, which appeared to be the fuel cell, flew off across the track in flames after the crash and was extinguished by track marshals after he crashed heavily into a concrete wall.

“Motorsport Australia stewards will conduct a hearing with Stadium Super Trucks following Thursday’s incident at the event,” Motorsport Australia said in a statement.

The massive crashes forced Thursday’s practice session to be red-flagged twice.

“As an outcome from the hearing is still to be determined, the Stadium Super Trucks’ qualifying session at 11.50am today will not proceed.”

The Stadium Super Trucks are making their return to the Adelaide 500 for the first time in four years and have travelled to Australia from the United States.

The trucks are scheduled to be on track for their first race on Friday afternoon and again on Saturday and Sunday.

EARLIER: DUAL CRASHES MARK FIERY START TO ADELAIDE 500

Two drivers have walked away from spectacular crashes in the Stadium Super Trucks on the opening day of racing at the Adelaide 500.

In two dramatic incidents, the race was red-flagged twice after Shae Davies and Matt Mingay were both involved in big separate smashes on Thursday.

Davies was the first to crash, nose-planting his truck into the track as it landed after going over a jump and then rolled several times before coming to a rest on its side.

Crews raced to attend to Davies, who was stuck inside, but he was soon able to climb out of the truck and walk away from the accident on the front straight.

The fuel cell was metres from being flung into the crowd while on fire...#Adelaide500

— Jacki (@MissJackx) November 14, 2024

After the race was restarted, Matt Mingay was the next to find trouble, losing control as he landed after clearing a jump before slamming heavily into a concrete wall.

A piece of the truck, which appeared to be the fuel cell, flew off across the track in flames after the crash and was extinguished by track marshals.

Other drivers stopped their trucks to check on Mingay, who was also able to climb out of the truck wreck on his own.

It was a welcome relief for Mingay, the notorious Gold Coast stuntman who is lucky to be alive after a horrific truck crash in Detroit in 2016.

Mingay was placed in a coma, suffered paralysis, shattered his jaw and required brain surgery just to survive that ordeal.

“When they pulled my helmet off, it was like someone had put a shotgun under my chin and blew it apart,” Mingay told the Gold Coast Bulletin in 2016.

Originally published as Adelaide 500 Stadium Super Trucks: Drivers walk away after crashes on day one of racing