Fans demand severe penalties for driver after a shocking incident in American dirt racing.
Outcry for Lifetime Ban Following Disturbing Dirt Racing Incident
A frightening occurrence at the MARS Late Model series this weekend at Farmer City Raceway in Illinois has spectators urging for drastic action against a driver involved in the chaos.
During the race, driver Daryn Klein (No. 10) attempted to overtake Bob Gardner (No. 4) after exiting a corner. However, Klein was unable to complete the maneuver effectively, causing him to land on the hood of Gardner’s vehicle. This collision propelled Gardner directly into driver Dylan Thornton.
What could have ended the race took a drastic turn when Gardner, overwhelmed with frustration, turned his car around and drove straight into oncoming traffic.
That should be a 1 year ban minimum. Lifetime should be on the table.
— Caution Flag Contemplations (@_CautionFlag) July 19, 2025
Immediate Response from Race Control
In order to prevent dangerous collisions, race control promptly waved a caution flag. Gardner eventually stopped on the track, leading cars to maneuver around him, but he later rejoined the race by cutting across the infield. Gardner aggressively collided with Klein, pushing him into the barriers and subsequently hitting him again, flipping Klein’s car onto its roof.
Fortunately, there were no injuries due to the lower speeds during the caution period; however, officials responded by black-flagging Gardner. Further penalties are anticipated, though the MARS Late Model series has yet to release specific details.
Fans have taken to social media platforms, expressing outrage at Gardner’s actions, labeling the incident as one of the most reckless in recent dirt racing history. Many have called for legal repercussions, emphasizing that such behavior is unacceptable in racing.
Gardner Addresses the Incident
In a YouTube video addressing the situation, Bob Gardner acknowledged the backlash and offered an apology to Dylan Thornton. He admitted that his actions were out of character and expressed regret, stating, “What I did was uncalled for, was wrong.” He explained that his intention was to retaliate against Klein for a previous incident, but recognized that his actions were inappropriate.
