During Friday’s IMSA-sanctioned Mustang Challenge race at Watkins Glen, Nate Cicero, driver of the #82 McCumby McAleer Racing Ford Mustang, was involved in a horrific rollover accident.
However, despite the scary appearance, the driver was able to quickly get out of the car and leave the scene.
The accident occurred during Mustang Challenge Race 1, with Cicero running in fifth place just 15 minutes into the race. As the lead pack approached the Turn 7 hairpin, Cicero’s Mustang suddenly accelerated, veered into the grass and hit the barrier. Cicero’s car flew into the air, rolled through the air and landed on its wheels on the tire barrier.
Nate Cicero was hit on his bike when the throttle seemed to get stuck at the Watkins Glen Mustang Challenge. Nate quickly got off the bike and showed absolutely no signs of injury, which is really amazing. pic.twitter.com/0WyjBuJKIA
— Grid Badger (@GridBadger) June 21, 2024
As noted in the social media post above, it appears Cicero may have experienced a stuck throttle just before impact, but the driver was able to exit the vehicle and walk away under his own power.
The barriers could not be repaired in time and the remainder of the race was run behind the safety car, with Tyler Maxson winning.
In a statement Road and track A Ford Performance representative said the cause of the accident is unknown at this time: “It is premature to speculate as to the cause of the accident involving the No. 82 Ford Mustang Dark Horse R during the Mustang Challenge race at Watkins Glen. The Ford Performance team will be working with the MMR Motorsports team to further investigate the incident.”
This is only the second weekend of racing for the new Mustang-focused series.
