Racers in Heaven

As the title of this entry indicates, this will be about racers who aren't with us here on Earth anymore. Some passed doing what they loved best, racing. Others were taken from us in tragic accidents outside of the track or race car. There is quite a long list of well known drivers who we have lost. Dale Earnhardt, Scott Brayton, Greg Moore, Swede Savage, Eddie Sachs, Dave McDonald, Gordon Smiley, Aryton Senna, Roland Ratzenburger, Kenny Irwin, Tony Roper, John Nemechek, Neil Bonnett, and the list goes on. These drivers were all killed behind the wheel of their racing machines. I have seen it only once in person at a race track. It was the 2002 Turbo Blue Racing Gasolines Illinois Fall Nationals at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, on the Springfield Mile. In a race before, Denny Eckrich I believe it was, blew a motor laying oil down the front straight. George Handley III was one of a few cars who spun early in the modified feature. He spun and was hit at not quite full speed in the driver's side door by if I remember correctly Jim Shereck. The sound was one of the most sickening things I have ever heard in my life. It happened in front of the grandstands, so everyone seen and heard it. When the blue tarps were put on the car, and then escorted out by the Illinois State Police, I knew he was gone. I only knew that because I had seen it only 1 year before during the ARCA Re/Max Series race at the Springfield Mile. Dean Roper, on lap 17, had a heart attack coming off of 4 and hit the inside wall down the frontstretch and hit the end wall where the cars come onto the track. My grandpa told me when the blue tarp came out like that, it usually means the driver isn't with us anymore.
Other drivers have met a tragic fate outside of their race cars. Alan Kulwicki died in a plane crash in the mountains of Tennessee. Davey Allison died in a helicopter crash in the infield of his hometrack, the Talladega Superspeedway. Red Farmer, who was on board with him, survived the accident. Colin McRae was another driver killed outside of his race car. The legendary rally driver died in a helicopter crash just outside of his home in Scotland. Stan Fox, who cheated death in the 1995 Indianapolis 500 in one of the most horrific crashes of the time, died when he hit a van head on in New Zealand. Bob Wollek, a driver in the GT class of the American Le Mans Series, was riding his bike when he was struck by an elderly driver, and later died at a local hospital.
All of these drivers, as well as every other driver who have died either doing what they loved, or were just doing everyday things, will NEVER be forgotten. Racing is an inherently dangerous sport. We can always improve the safety with better materials, walls, and safety devices, but there will always be an element of danger. This is a fact of life all racers come to accept. Some racers have paid the ultimate price. Now, they are racers in heaven.