By Scott Carlson-North Platte Post
NORTH PLATTE, Neb.-Local race fans are familiar with local sprint car driver Tom Belsky and his love of racing.
Belsky was seriously injured in a crash during a race in Lincoln on May 15.
According to Belsky's friend Nick Bryan, Belsky was in a Last Chance Qualifier at Eagle Raceway in Lincoln.
During a restart, Belsky made contact with another car which sent his car full speed into a barrier in one of the turns.
Belsky was knocked unconscious and had to be extracted from the car by emergency and safety crews.
Bryan said Belsky was life-flighted to Bryan LGH Medical Trauma Center, in Lincoln.
Belsky's injuries were numerous and included broken ribs, a punctured lung, and dislocated vertebrae in his neck.
Doctors performed emergency surgery to fuse Belsky's neck bones back together.
The surgery was successful, but Belsky faces a long road toward healing and recovery.
It's estimated that Belsky will receive treatment in the hospital for three to six months, followed by 12 to 24 months of daily rehab and recovery.
Bryan has started a Go-Fund-Me account to help with expenses for Belsky's family as he remains hospitalized in Lincoln.
Several other fundraisers are being planned for Belsky in the near future.
Find the Go-Fund-Me account HERE.
Belsky is a longtime employee of the Union Pacific Railroad.