By NICK SCHWIEN

nschwien@dailynews.net

There's a competitive attitude that runs through racers when they hit the track.

But there's also a feeling of support and comaraderie back in the pits when the checkered flag waves.

And when an unfortunate accident does happen, the racing family rallies around that driver.

That's the case now in the United Rebel Sprint Series 305 sprint car class.

Greg Thyfault was seriously injured in an accident Monday night during hot laps at WaKeeney Speedway.

Thyfault rolled several times near turn three and ended up near the pits on the north side of the track. He was taken to the hospital, then transferred to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita with a broken shoulder and a back injury that left no feeling below his waist as of Tuesday night. On Wednesday night, longtime friend Larry Radcliffe said Thyfault -- who was expected to be moved out of ICU today -- reported feeling numbness in his legs when they moved.

"I was there immediately after it, and I could tell he was out of it," Radcliffe said about teh accident. "He just went out for hot laps and didn't remember really cinching his belts down tight. His helmet was about on the (steering) wheel. He just went out to pack down the track, and then they turned them loose and it happened."

Radcliffe was headed back to Wichita on Wednesday afternoon to see his friend. The two have a special bond.

Thyfault introduced Radcliffe to his future wife, Shelly. Thyfault and Shelly were classmates at Damar, and now Radcliffe and his wife have been married for 25 years.

Thyfault recently moved back to Damar from Topeka because he wanted to get back closer to the racing scene.

One of Radcliffe's son -- Jeff, who also races in the URSS -- and others were moving to the bottom of the track to avoid another accident when Radcliffe said his son felt his car shake.

"He said Greg dropped down to the bottom, and (Jeff) felt his car shake and he looked over his right shoulder and saw Greg flipping," Radcliffe said. "(Greg) said he never saw the accident in front of him. If he would have ended up about 6 or 8 feet over, he'd have been in the catch fence and it wouldn't have been as bad."

URSS promoter Rick Salem still was unsettled about the accident Wednesday afternoon.

"It's a hard pill to swallow, but it's unfortunately part of the sport," he said. "I'm kind of upset myself. It's the first kid I've had hurt since we started the series. ... I looked the car over and couldn't see where the car failed. He said he probably didn't cinch himself down tight enough."

Salem estimated Thyfault flipped "five or six or seven" times before coming to rest.

"He went flippling," Salem said. "He landed down out on the fence in the pits. It wasn't a pretty deal."

As of early Wednesday afternoon, Radcliffe hadn't heard any new news on Thyfault. But he hadn't made it back to Wichita yet to check on his friend.

He had seen him Tuesday and said he was in relatively good spirits.

"The guy was so upbeat, has such strong faith," Radcliffe said. "He said it is what the good Lord dealt him. He said he thinks God has prepared him for this, and someday he hopes to walk again."

Salem and Radcliffe said a fund will be established to help Thyfault offset his medical expenses. And both, along with many other racers, are continuing to pray for Thyfault.

Before seeing him on Wednesday, Radcliffe said Thyfault mentally was preparing himself for all possibilities.

"He's totally accepted that if he doesn't walk again, that it's God's will," Radcliffe said. "But we're hoping for good news."