A back injury suffered while driving a “Monster” Truck will keep well known TV star and part time V8 Supercar driver Grant Denyer out of next months Bathurst 1000. Ford Rising Stars Racing Team owner Jim Morton released a statement today September 19 announcing Denyer’s withdrawal from the race.
“As most people will now be aware Grant has been involved in an accident whilst practicing for an upcoming “monster truck” show on the NSW South Coast resulting in a very serious back injury. His Manager, David Wilson has reported that the good news to date is that he is not presenting with any apparent nerve damage and that his fingers and toes appear to be functioning normally. He also confirmed that Grant will not be in a position to compete at Bathurst.”Denyer sustained the injury after the truck that he was driving landed heavily after a car jump.
Denyer crushed a lower vertebrae (L1) and faces several months of rehabilitation that will see him out of the drivers seat for the rest of the year at least. The Monster Truck drive was part of a promotional stunt for a major meeting in the Southern NSW town of Dapto.
Denyer’s injury will again raise questions about his motorsport future. As the host of several top rating shows including Australia’s Got Talent and It Takes Two, Denyer is a valuable commercial property for the Seven Network. Just how long they will continue to have him put at risk by racing or via the occasional stunts he does for TV is any bodies guess.
From all of us at In Pit Lane we wish Grant all the very best in his recovery.