Alexander killed in ARCA race
Blaise Alexander, 25, died Thursday of severe head injuries sustained in an accident during an ARCA race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. With four laps remaining in the Easy Care 100, Alexander and Kerry Earnhardt collided as Alexander passed Earnhardt for the lead. Just past the start-finish line, the right rear of Alexander's car made contact with the left front of Earnhardt's, sending the cars spinning and Alexander head-on into the wall. Earnhardt's car flipped and skidded upside-down along the frontstretch. Alexander's car came to rest in the infield grass. When emergency medical technicians arrived, Alexander had no pulse and showed no life signs. He was transferred to the track's infield care center, where doctors tried to revive Alexander for 25 minutes. They pronounced him dead at 10:20pm/et. ARCA President Ron Drager said Alexander had been wearing the required "horse collar," a foam device designed to restrict the movement of the driver's head in an accident. The collar was manufactured by Simpson Performance Products, and there was no apparent failure of the collar. Alexander wasn't wearing any other head-and-neck restraint system. Kerry Earnhardt was taken to the track's infield care center but was not injured. He later returned to the facility and found Norris. The two went inside to be with Alexander's family. Wednesday's race was called after the accident and Earnhardt declared the winner, having led the last completed lap. Alexander was credited with second.(

ARCA driver Eric Martin (1969-2002)
Eric Martin fatally injured at Lowe's Motor Speedway CONCORD NC (10-9-02) ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Eric Martin was fatally injured in a two-car accident at Lowes Motor Speedway Wednesday afternoon during practice for the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contract 150.


Bowling Green, Kentucky driver Deborah Renshaw made contact with Martin off turn four after Martin had already made contact with the turn four wall.

Martin was transported to Northeast Medical Center in Concord, North Carolina where he was pronounced dead.

Renshaw, was transported, conscious and alert, to University Medical Center for further evaluation.

Martin, driving for Wayne Hixson, made 40 career ARCA RE/MAX Series starts in 2001 and 2002 with a career-best finish of 14th on the Springfield, Illinois dirt-mile in 2002. Martin finished a career-best 16th in ARCA RE/MAX Series driver points in 2001 driving for Hixson who also fields ARCA RE/MAX Series cars for Soddy Daisy, Tennessee veteran driver Ron Cox.

Out of respect for the family, friends, competitors and fans of Eric Martin, all further on-track activity has been cancelled Wednesday including qualifying and happy hour. Thursday's field for the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 150 will be set by current car owner points.

ERIC MARTIN career stats

Hometown: Hixson, Tennessee

DOB: 2-6-69

Race driver/mechanic

Wife Tammy, 2 children

Driving for step-father Wayne Hixson, has 40 career ARCA RE/MAX Series starts since 2001. Career-best finish 14th on DuQuoin, Illinois dirt-mile in 2002. Also finished 16th at Nashville Superspeedway ’01, 18th at Chicagoland Speedway ’02, 21st at Kansas Speedway ’02, 23rd at Nashville ’02, 23rd at Springfield dirt-mile ’02, 25th at Pocono ’02 and 25th at Watkins Glen road course ’01. Career-best qualifying runs 20th at Nashville ’02, 22nd at Salem ’02, 22nd at Watkins Glen ’01, 23rd at Springfield ’02 and 25th at Pocono ’02. Finished career-best 16th in ARCA RE/MAX Series driver points in 2001. Wife Tammy is an officer on the USS Gettysburg in the US Navy.