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CHAMPION
CHRISTOPHER PASSES AWAY
Connecticut Driver Involved In Plane Crash |
NASCAR
champion Ted Christopher passed away Saturday after
being involved in a plane crash in Connecticut. He
was 59.
Christopher is one of two drivers to win the NASCAR
Whelen All-Amercian Series national title and a
touring series championship. The Plainville,
Connecticut, driver won the short-track national
title in 2001 and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
crown in 2008. He was the winningest driver at a
pair of Connecticut's historic tracks: Stafford
Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway Motorsports
Park.
He was one of two people on board a plane that went
down in Guilford, Connecticut, Saturday afternoon.
The crash claimed the life of both.
“We are all saddened to learn of the tragic plane
crash this afternoon that claimed the lives of
NASCAR driver Ted Christopher and the aircraft’s
pilot," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.
"As a championship driver on the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour and New England short tracks,
Christopher was a throwback to NASCAR’s roots. He
was a tough racer’s racer, and his hard driving
style and candid personality endeared him to short
track fans throughout the country. He will be missed
throughout the racing community, in the garage and,
especially, in the hearts of his many fans. NASCAR
has his family and friends in its thoughts and
prayers during this difficult time.”
Christopher was named one of the top 25 drivers in
NASCAR's weekly series in 2006, when the series
celebrated its 25th anniversary. In 2008, Stafford
named a section of its grandstand in his honor.
Christopher made six starts in the Monster Energy
NASCAR Cup Series, 21 in the NASCAR XFINITY Series,
and two in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He
had 12 wins in 94 NASCAR K&N Pro Series starts, and
42 wins over 29 year of racing on the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour. He also won six times in 19 starts in
the former NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and
made a pair of starts in IMSA's ROLEX 24 at Daytona.
Christopher had 131 overall wins and nine SK
Modified Division championships at Stafford, and
another 99 wins at Thompson.
He has been scheduled to drive the No. 82 Horton
Avenue Materials Chevrolet at New York's Riverhead
Raceway. Prior to the race, the 82 team drove the
car in a ceremonial pace lap before a moment of
silence was held. |
Source:
NASCAR HOMETRACKS / NASCAR
Posted:
September 16, 2017 |
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