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Raceway Park Crash: Neal Parker Dies in Crash (NHRA Death)
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by Amy Judd | June 11, 2010 at 01:33 pm
10299 views | 2 Recommendations | 7 comments
Neal Parker Died at an NHRA Event at Raceway Park on June 11 After Crashing Through the Net at the End of the Track
Raceway Park in Old Bridge New Jersey was the scene of a tragic accident on Friday when 58-year-old Neal Parker crashed his car when through the a net at the end of the track. The drag racing driver suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The accident happened during a qualifying round for the NHRA SuperNationals according to the Associated Press. Parker was part of the Top Alcohol Funny Car competition round.
"Parker ... crashed Friday at a high rate of speed in the shutdown area during qualifying," the NHRA said in a statement on its website. "On behalf of everyone at NHRA and Raceway Park, we are deeply saddened and want to pass along our sincere condolences to the entire Parker family."
One spectator David Farrah told the AP that it looked like a chute on the car tried to deploy but it did not work properly. He said the car just crumpled.
It was over three hours before the track was reopened and an investigation in to the crash is set to take place.
Parker often drove in NHRA events on the East Coast, but was not among the organization's top-ranked drivers nationally, NHRA spokesman Anthony Vestal said.
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at 17:06 on June 11th, 2010
Regardless of whether he was #1 or #100 in the sport doesn't matter. Any loss of life is a great tragedy. Racing has lost a member of it's community and we are all mourning. Godspeed, Mr. Parker and our prayers are with your friends and family.....
at 12:30 on June 12th, 2010
I do not believe this 'Tragedy' had anything to do with too much 'Fuel Volume.'
at 04:42 on June 13th, 2010
No matter the cause for the accident it is always a tragedy to see a fellow racer meet their demise due to anything while in the race car.My heart goes out to his family.I will say for myself and probably alot of others who race that,there is no other way we would rather go out. be that as it may,going out doing what you love makes things no easier on those left behind. As racers we all know there is an inherent risk in climbing in the cockpit of any race car.The families know this,the driver knows this, anyone who has ever seen a 300+mph or in this case -(minus) has to know this. Safety restrictions will come of this such as a smaller volume fuel pump and also a type of shall I say restricter plate limiting air intake to supercharger among other ideas NHRA will entertain. That is a whole other topic,wether the point is to go as fast and close to the ragged edge as mechanically possible to satisfy the need for speed only a racer and fans understand or standerdize safety measures on cars to where they are predictable and routine run after run. We could go on for days with that.As for this situation my heart goes out to neals family and loved ones.He represented the sport he loved and dedicated himself to it and its fans.Racing requires great sacrifice of ones self. Unfortounatley this weekend.Neal made the ultimate sacrifice. We wont forget and he will live on in the spirit that surrounds the track and in the hearts of loved ones. RIP Neal,may you show the angels how to live fast.
at 06:13 on June 14th, 2010
VERY WELL SAID, THANK YOU ! GOD BLESS THE PARKER FAMILY.
at 12:14 on June 13th, 2010
the idea of fuel volume reduction is only being applied to T/F and F/C not T/A F/C or T/AD
at 15:45 on June 14th, 2010
Neal Parker R.I.P.
at 06:12 on June 16th, 2010
I've heard from a inside source the cause was the result of a heart attack. Quote; " The Brakes
had no sign of being applied."