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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The father of a teenage race car driver is vowing to take police and
legal action against the owner of Can-Am Speedway following a
confrontation on the track.
Doug Williams calls the actions of Can-Am owner Tiger Chapman "unacceptable."
Williams' son, Justin, was racing in a Mod Lite event last Saturday when
he was involved in what's called a spin-out, in which he made slight
contact with the car in front of him.
An 8-minute video posted on YouTube shows the race and the spin-out.
7 News confirmed Chapman's son was driving the car in front of Justin.
At about 7 minutes into the video, Chapman is seen walking on the track.
He then walks up to Justin's car, grabs the teen and begins screaming at him.
Chapman is distinctly heard saying, "I'll f..ing kill you."
Justin then drives off without further incident.
Doug Williams said he saw the video the next day.
"The hair was standing on the back of my head. I started shaking a
little bit - a little upset as a father should be," said Doug.
Doug, who is a prominent regional race car driver from Central Square,
said he has received calls from fellow racers and friends from all over
the country since the video hit YouTube.
He said they're urging him to take action against Chapman.
"We're going to get an attorney and tomorrow (Saturday) we'll probably
go up and meet state police and, of course, show them the video," said
Doug.
Doug said he has seen drivers be involved in confrontations before, but
never an owner with a driver - especially a teenage driver.
"You know, he's 17. He was in shell shock. He pulled off the track and
went right to the trailer and did a little bit of crying," said Doug.
"He was scared to death."
Doug said he and his son have raced at Can-Am Speedway when it was under previous ownership and have always enjoyed it.
"I'll never, ever race that track as long as he (Chapman) owns it again," said Doug.
7 News was unable to reach Chapman for comment.
Track general manager Chip Burdick said what his boss did was understandable as a father's reaction to a son being in danger.
"He could have been killed," said Burdick of Chapman's son.
Source:
<a href="http://www.wwnytv.com/news/local/Feedback-Can-Am-Clash-To-Be-Brought-To-Police-Attention-161592355.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.wwnytv.com/news/local/Feedback-Can-Am-Clash-To-Be-Brought-To-Police-Attention-161592355.html</a>