FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- In July 2013, a sprint race in the Bay Area took a turn for the worst after two cars collided on the speedway. The driver was stuck inside as emergency crews rushed to help.
Clovis resident Peter Murphy was the driver of that car.
"To be on the track when that happened, I'm not sure I would have liked to have found me there," said Murphy. "It took them like five minutes to find my pulse."
Murphy suffered a traumatic brain injury and multiple other injuries. He still has the wrecked car inside his shop in Fresno.
"The car got in on an angle and it hit the seat, and my head's right there. So, it pushed everything forward. It hit us about 80 miles an hour," said Murphy.
Murphy suffered a brain bleed and had to go through rehabilitation. During that time, he received an outpouring of emotional and even financial help to help his family, while the small-business owner recovered. Because of those kind acts, Murphy decided to host the Peter Murphy Classic race on Saturday in Tulare, as a way to get back to the racetrack and help others.
"I want to give back to all the mates I race against, and I want to give back to the fans because they've been so good to me," said Murphy.
His wife and two sons will also be there to help at the sprint race. Now, one year after the crash that almost took his life, Murphy knows he has a community rallying behind him.
"From my family to my close friends to now I have an even bigger family, and I love them all," said Murphy.
The Peter Murphy Classic is Saturday at the Tulare Thunder Bowl. Tickets start at $20. Proceeds from T-shirt sales will go back to a fund to help other racers who face hard times.