Gremlin rollover & NHRA's Darrell Russell

["Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxx>]

You are lucky to have walked away from that Gremlin crash. That is a
testimonial as to how well the cage was built. Screw the car, any lifeless
piece of metal can be replaced, you can't. But it is a risk one takes when
they put on a helmet too. I'm happy you are even able to post with your
fingers telling us about the experience as opposed to not having hands, or
laid up in hospital or even worse, like this local NHRA boy from Hockley,
which is about 40 miles from me. He died. So good to hear you are fine!
===================================
Darrell Russell dies in Top Fuel crash


>From Star news services
June 28, 2004


NHRA drag racer Darrell Russell died Sunday night from injuries suffered in
a violent crash during the Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway
International Raceway in Madison, Ill.

Russell, a 35-year-old native of Hockley, Texas, had just lost to Scott
Kalitta in the second round of eliminations when his Top Fuel dragster
crashed while running about 300 mph at the end of the quarter-mile strip at
Gateway International Raceway.

Russell is the first participant to be killed in competition at an NHRA
national event since Blaine Johnson died in a crash during a qualifying run
at the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1996.

Sunday's event continued after about a 45-minute delay. NHRA officials
informed the media of Russell's death about two hours after the crash. No
announcement was made to crowd of about 25,000.

"The event continues," said Graham Light, NHRA vice president of racing
operations. "I think Darrell would have wanted that. We're not going to
announce it to the crowd at this point. I don't think there's anything to be
gained by doing that."

Russell's car went out of control just past the finish line. It appeared to
shred a tire after Russell activated his parachute to slow his 2,200-pound
car.

The car went sideways as it lost control and wound up going back against the
concrete wall to the left of the lane in which Russell had been racing. The
NHRA safety crew was rolling toward it immediately and quickly extinguished
a small fire that erupted around the remains of the car.

Dan Brickey, director of emergency medical services for the NHRA, said the
driver's compartment was intact when the rescue team arrived. The workers
cut away the roll cage, immobilized Russell's spine and then took off his
helmet and the required head-and-neck restraint device before loading him
onto a backboard and taking him to the ambulance.

Brickey said Russell was unconscious but breathing when he was taken by
helicopter to St. Louis University Medical Center, where he was pronounced
dead about two hours later.

Category winners were Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Gary Scelzi (Funny Car), Greg
Anderson (Pro Stock) and Steve Johnson (Pro Stock Bike).

Eddie Stakes
www.planethoustonamx.com
*Note volume of email is
extremely heavy, expect
5-12 day responses