Hoffman injured in highway accident
Five-time Summit Modified Nationals champion and frequent Dirt Late Model competitor Nick Hoffman of Mooresville, N.C., was awake and alert Friday at a Kentucky hospital while recovering from a broken jaw and cheekbone suffered when his race team’s hauler was involved in a highway accident en route to Labor Day weekend racing in the Midwest.
The “horrible accident” that also injured Darrell Hoffman, Nick’s father, was reported early Friday on Facebook by Ashly Hoffman Burnett, the driver’s sister. Saying the family received a phone call about the wreck at 3 a.m. Friday, she didn’t reveal the accident’s location but she and family members flew to Kentucky. Hoffman was scheduled to compete Friday at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway.
According to family reports relayed by his longtime racing friend Gordy Gundaker, Hoffman has brain swelling on the right side of his skull and would likely need surgery after the swelling goes down. He was initially sedated and placed on a ventilator following the accident but “doing a lot better than he was when he got to the hospital,” his sister said. Doctors expected him to recover.
Darrell Hoffman suffered a broken vertebrae and being treated with a brace worn around his torso.
"Prayers worked!!!” Ashly posted late Friday. "I have my dad and my brother!!!!”
The 30-year-old Hoffman, a Belleville, Ill., native who moved to North Carolina and founded Elite Chassis, won 12 races en route to his fifth Summit Modified Nationals championship in 2022. Hoffman has had stints for several Late Model teams including Scott Bloomquist Racing in 2021 and most recently in the Barry Wright Race Cars house car.
Editor's note: Updates with more family reports later Friday.
