In the feature, Nichole started about 12th, and was quickly gaining ground.  She made it to 9th place, then got too high in turn two, and hit the wall--hard.  On the rebound, she was vulnerable to the other cars, and got tagged, and spun backward into the wall.  Dust and parts flew, and the race was quickly stopped.  

The No. 16 Bookmobile was towed off "on the hook", while Nichole sat in the pits and tried to shake off the hard impact.  We feel very very lucky she is all right.  Much of that is due to her wearing a head and neck safety brace (HANS).  We are one of the few WISSOTA Midwest Modified teams to employ the HANS system, and we're quite sure it prevented serious injury tonight.  (If you're a driver or crew member reading this, get in touch; I know a local HANS dealer and can hook you up.  They're spendy, but hospitals and chiropractors are way worse.....)

Nichole was checked over by EMT's, and her vital signs were good.  She seemed fine but for a stiff neck, though probably will have some shoulder strap "rash" tomorrow.   I'll be dropping by her house to check on her.

The "Bookmobile" needs serious work, and we will be off at least a week for repairs and regrouping, though crew chief Bill Smith has worked miracles before.

In the video below check out Nichole  in action at Bemidji Speedway, Bemidji, MN. May 30, 2010.   Watch her loosen up one of the cars in turn two with a tap on the rear, then slip past him on the inside.  Classic dirt track maneuver.  The No. 16 Bookmobile is part of the Motornovels series, including the just-released CHECKERED FLAG CHEATER. The books are fiction but Nichole, as you can see, is the real deal.