New safety measures will be added at Volusia Speedway Park after three people were hurt in a crash Sunday night.

Officials with DIRTcar Nationals said they are making safety repairs and improvements.

"In addition to repairing the catch fence, the pit area closest to the racing surface in Turn 2 will be closed to all competitors, participants and officials for the remaining six nights of racing," officials said in a statement.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, three people were hurt when a sprint car driven by Dale Blaney crashed and flew over a 10 foot containment fence.

Blaney is the uncle of current NASCAR Driver Ryan Blaney. He is the brother of former NASCAR Driver Dave Blaney.

"They can always put more wall in. You can never be too safe," said Dennis Krieger, a dirt track racing photographer.

Krieger said danger comes with the territory in his profession.

"I'm pretty close to the edge of the track shooting the cars coming at me, going away from me. So, I've been able to do this for 45 years and been pretty lucky. I've had some close calls," Krieger explained.

According to the DIRTcar Nationals release:

"The safety arrangement in Turns 1 and 2 at Volusia Speedway Park includes an earthen reinforced steel guardrail on the racing surface, a buffer area and a cable reinforced steel catch fence."

However, on Sunday night, those safety measures were not enough.

"I've seen a lot of accidents," Krieger said. "You never want to see it and they do all the precautions and put up all the chain link fence and the steel barriers and stuff but these cars are going so fast, things happen."

"Spectators, they enjoy the speed, that's what they come for," said Charles Hatch, a former dirt track driver.

"It's just always that possibility. It's a slim possibility. You figure all the laps these drivers make. It's rare for one of them to really get hurt," Hatch said.

At last check, 68-year-old Michael Brooks was in critical condition at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach.

Kelly Kovski, the Crew Chief for Justin Allgaier Motorsports, is also being treated at Halifax Medical Center.

According to a statement released by Justin Allgaier Motorsports, Kovski is listed in stable condition.

Meanwhile, Gary Streek, who was also hurt, has been released from the hospital.

Statement from Volusia Speedway Park

Volusia Speedway Park staff and management worked through the night Sunday to provide support to the family and friends of the participants involved in the incident in the pit area outside of Turn 2 during the World of Outlaws feature event portion of the program and to further evaluate all aspects of the situation.  

Prior to the 46th annual running of the DIRTcar Nationals, the safety measures in place at the speedway have done their job. Under its current ownership since 2005, no race car has compromised a catch fence at the speedway. The safety arrangement in Turns 1 and 2 at Volusia Speedway Park includes an earthen reinforced steel guardrail on the racing surface, a buffer area and a cable reinforced steel catch fence. 

The catch fence protecting the pit area at the exit of Turn 2 utilizes a different configuration than that which is used around the balance of the facility. As a result, in addition to repairing the catch fence, the pit area closest to the racing surface in Turn 2 will be closed to all competitors, participants and officials for the remaining six nights of racing. While not affected by the incident Sunday night, a small set of bleachers intended for use by competitors and crew members that would have fallen within the restricted area has also been removed.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of our racing family injured Sunday night, and we are encouraged by the reports of the excellent care they are receiving at Halifax," said Brian Carter, CEO of Volusia Speedway Park.  "We have implemented additional safety measures and are very proud of our emergency medical personnel and their response to the incident."