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Fan struck by tire at Daytona Speedway talks to WFTV

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 talked with a race fan who was struck by a tire that came off Kyle Larson's race car and into the stands during a Nationwide Series race at the Daytona International Speedway on Saturday.

Dan Germeroth, 56, of North Carolina, was grazed in the head by the tire.

"The only thought was, 'Oh, my gosh. It's going to hit us,' and it did," said Germeroth. "I was bleeding out of the top of my head. I was knocked out, unconscious."

Germerothwas rushed to Halifax Medical Center, where he received 12 stitches in his head.

But Germeroth's friends told him a teenager sitting behind him was seriously hurt, taking the brunt of the impact.

In all, 33 fans were hurt at the race. Seven are still being treated for traumatic injuries.

A tweet from a Tony Stewart fan thanked the driver for stopping by a hospital, saying his visit to her Michigan friends "really made a difference."

Police have not been able to provide WFTV with a detailed report of the accident, and the Daytona Speedway is refusing to release the names of the victims, only saying that they've met with them.

Everyone is expected to recover.