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Death of Top Fuel Driver
RIP for a 300 MPH racer. Great driver and top fuel dragster...he died what he loved doing the most. Watched his car explode at quarter mile mark at over 300 last night...
| quote: | Russell's death shocks other drag racers
By KEN ROBERTS
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Drivers had a uniform reaction to the death of National Hot Rod Association drag racer Darrell Russell on Sunday at the Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill.
All agreed that Russell, the 2001 NHRA rookie of the year, was "one of the best guys out here," said 12-time Funny Car champion John Force.
Russell, 35, of Hockley, Texas, was killed after his Top Fuel dragster blew its left rear tire just past the finish line and went out of control.
A timer near the end of the quarter-mile strip recorded Russell, who was wearing a Head And Neck Support device, going an average speed of 322.73 miles per hour in the last 66 feet of his run against Scott Kalitta, who had just beaten Russell.
Russell had to be extricated from the roll cage around the driver's compartment and he was taken, unconscious but breathing, to a waiting helicopter, which transferred the badly injured driver to St. Louis University Hospital Trauma Center where he later died.
NHRA senior vice president of racing operations Graham Light made the announcement of Russell's death to the media at 8:15 p.m. Light said he decided not to immediately inform the nearly 25,000 fans in attendance and said the event would continue.
"I think Darrell would have wanted that and (car owner) Joe Amato would want that," Light said. "We're not going to announce it to the crowd at this point. There isn't anything to be gained from doing that."
After the finals were completed, fans were informed of Russell's death and there was a moment of silence.
The death was the first at an NHRA national event since 1996, when Blaine Johnson was killed in an accident at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Funny Car driver Ron Capps said he was stunned when he heard of Russell's death. "On a personal level, you start to question your faith when guys like Darrell and Blaine Johnson are taken off this planet," he said.
Capps' teammate, Tommy Johnson Jr., said Russell's death was "just terrible. He was a great guy with a great future in the sport. You hate to see anything happen to anybody. We all know it's part of the game when you come out here. It just never happens in drag racing."
Although defending Funny Car champion Tony Pedregon, who had tears streaming down his face, didn't know Russell too well, he said, "Darrell was very polite and very well mannered and a great young talent that was obviously raised by good parents.
"As a driver, we know what the risks are and this is what we choose to do. I don't think we'd have it any other way. But it hurts that it happened to a person that had that kind of potential. I think his parents can be very proud of what he accomplished and what he did."
Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert said, "It's a sad day. ... He was one of the most likable guys out here. A good racer."
Jerry Toliver, who pilots a Funny Car, said, "It makes what we do out here so insignificant. He was a really good guy."
Gary Scelzi, who has driven a Top Fuel dragster and currently drives in the Funny Car class, has known Russell and his family for years.
"I've known his mom and dad for a long time," a subdued Scelzi said. "He used to race in the alcohol classes and he was a great kid. I really liked the family atmosphere and how they raced together and how he was successful. He was a good driver, a good-looking kid and he was very personable. All he wanted to do was drive a Top Fuel dragster." |
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after all you can only ride the luck your given for so long!!
