ARCA Driver Death

L

LadyCroft

Guest
Posted on Wed, Oct. 09, 2002

ARCA driver dies in practice;
Renshaw taken to hospital
ThatsRacin.com Report


AP Photo/Chuck Burton

Workers remove the car of ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Eric Martin from the track at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Wednesday Oct. 9, 2002. Martin was killed Wednesday in a wreck during practice for the EasyCare 150.


ARCA competitor Eric Martin was killed in a violent crash at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Wednesday in a practice session leading up to Thursday night's EasyCare 150.
Martin, driving the No. 2 Hixson Construction Chevrolet, spun coming off Turn 4 and backed the car into the wall. While Martin's car sat idle, driver Deborah Renshaw's No. 75 Ford slammed into the driver's-side door area. Emergency workers covered Martin's car with a tarp minutes after the accident.

Renshaw, 25, of Bowling Green, Ky., was taken to University Hospital in Charlotte after being treated at the infield care center. She is alert and talking.

Martin, a rookie in the Autombile Racing Club of America series, was from Hixson, Tenn., in the Chattanooga area. His best finish in the series was 21st at Kansas Speedway and he was 20th in the season standings.

He is survived by his wife, Tammy, and two children.

ARCA competitor Blaise Alexander was killed in a race wreck at the track a year ago this week.
 
Oh my goodness, another death at Charlotte. My condolences go out to the family of Eric Martin. I hope Renshaw is okay. She's probably pretty traumatized right now.

Wondering if Charlotte isn't one of those tracks that Mike Helton might feel is too fast and could use restricted engines. Hope not.
 
The 75 car Deborah is in, is the same team Blaise was driving for when he died last year (Bob Schacht)
 
I hate to hear this. Terrible.

IMO, one reason there are more tragedies at LMS is because there are more races there. Just about every series runs there I think.
 
OMG how tragic. Thoughts and prayers to the Martin Family.
 
Damn that is not good, He ain't related to Mark in any way is he? Also I think Mike Helton will put plates here this week now after that, I hope not though.
 
Originally posted by pettyfan4life
Damn that is not good, He ain't related to Mark in any way is he?  Also I think Mike Helton will put plates here this week now after that, I hope not though.
Click to expand...

No way plates will be put on this close to a race. Plus, that ain't Helton's call anyway. Plus, the accident and ensuing tragedy had not one thing to do with speed.
 
Last year we lost Blaise:( This year, Eric Martin, how tragic. My thoughts and prayers for his wife and children. May we take consolation in the fact that he has gone to race in a better place.
 
Are ARCA drivers required to wear any kind of neck supports? If not, maybe they will start.
 
Originally posted by 66mustang
Are ARCA drivers required to wear any kind of neck supports?  If not, maybe they will start.
Click to expand...

I think they did when nascar manadated them
 
All nascar sponsored series are required to wear head and neck restraints. :( Our thoughts and prayers to his family.
 
RIP -

ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Eric Martin was fatally injured in a two-car accident at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Wednesday afternoon at approximately 1:20 PM during practice for the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contract 150.


Martin died of massive internal injuries.

Bowling Green, Kentucky driver Deborah Renshaw was the other driver involved in the accident.

Renshaw, was transported, conscious and alert, to Carolinas Medical Center - University where she is undergoing a CT scan and will be x-rayed for a possible ankle injury.

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.

Martin has two children and his wife Tammy is in the U.S. Navy serving on the U.S.S. Gettysburg.

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.
 
Originally posted by paul
RIP dude...died doing what you loved.

I only hope I'm so lucky.
Click to expand...

Aman

Just as Blaise, Earnhardt, Petty, Ierin, Bonett and many orthers did.

As a grate man once said "live by the sword die by the sword"

RIP man :(
 
R.I.P. Eric Martin and prayers to Tammy and the family.

Deborah is listed in "fair" condition at a local hospital. Prayers to her as well.
 
RPM 2night had a tape of the crash on tonight! All I can say is that was a nasty wreck. I don't really understand what happened because it was 8 seconds later that she came along & hit him.


RIP Eric :( :( :( :(
 
Very sad, its a bad racing deal. Hans wouldn't have helped, speed wasn't a factor. I hope Renshaw doesn't feel responsible.

I wish her a speedy recovery, and my condolences go out to the Martin family.
 
Thoughts and prayers for the family.
from what I have heard both drivers had head restraints.
I also heard there were no spotters, just people on top of the haulers. sounds like renshaw never got word that another car was stopped on the track. the poor girl will probably catch blame from some people for this.
 
RIP Eric

Totally Nascar said both drivers were wearing the Hans devise.
I think spotters should be required for ALL on track activity!

Kel
 
That was a terrible Accident. I only wish that Renshaw could have swerved to avoid his car. It made me sick to see him up against the wall moving around and getting ready to get out and then when I saw Renshaws car I knew it wasnt going to be good . RIP Eric Martin.
 
I too was wondering how she could have not missed his car. I guess if no spotters were there that explains a part of it at least.
 
That was one of the worst I've seen. Hans, restrictor plates and anything else wouldn't have mattered in this one. To see the guy unhooking his belts to get out and then wham, get nailed, sent a chill down my spine. RIP Eric, Race On Bud. Debra get well soon.
 
i have not seen any pics of re-pays, but it sounds relly bad. this sounds like one wreck i dont want to see

RIP buddy :(
 
Just horrific.

Sad for everyone involved.


Seemed a needless thing to occur - getting t-boned 8 seconds after coming to a stop.
 
God what an awful wreck. God bless him and his family. So many questions. I mean Eric's car came to a rest on the front stretch. Surely she could have seen the car coming out of turn 4. Maybe another car was in from of her and blocked her view? Then again watching the video 6 seconds past betweenr the last car that went zooming past him and Debra T-boning him. That would indicate that she would have been between turns 3 & 4 after that last car. I am sure with that much time past Eric had already undid his Hans or unbuckled a seat belt. Sad.
 
I feel for the Martin family but you also need to think about Debra. Now she has to live with that the rest of her life.
 
Yeah and her pitcrew cause I think there Blaise old pitcrew it was his or Kerrys
 
The 75 car was Blaise's car and team.

The team owner was doing the spotting from the top of the hauler. If memory serves, the ARCA garage is down toward turn 1. Depending on where her hauler was parked, it could have been impossible for the spotter to see the wrecked car.
 
On the news they just reported that 10 seconds after his car came to rest, he was hit. Even without the spotter- there are caution lights coming out of four. They must have been on. Had to have been. I am so sad for everyone involved.:(
 
Monte Dutton, whose writings I tend to accept on faith based on experience, reports there may have been oil on the track.

A decent if somewhat disturbing article by Monte:

Article at Gaston Gazette
 
Thanks for the article HS.

This is a very unfortunate incident for all involved. Hope everyone doesn't start pointing fingers until we know all the facts.

This was an accident, certainly was in no way something that was intentional. Racing is a dangerous sport, sometimes fate has more of a hand in the outcome of events than all the safety measures and equipment can help to avoid!
 
It's not the tracks, it's not the cars, it's not the drivers.....

It's that gosh dern gas pedal. It's been killin drivers for years. And it will again.

Bet on it.
 
A T-bone is an ugly type of wreck. There's nothing you can do to prevent it other that move the driver in the center of the car, which is unlikely to happen.

My condolences to the Martin family, and I hope Debora Renshaw doesn't try to blame herself for his death, but it's going to be hard for her not to.
 
Just read an article at the Tennessean which mostly rehashes what has already been written except:

Deborah foot and ankle are shattered pretty bady, she will undergo orthopedic surgery today.

According to her father who was the track she will be devastated by the death, she has not yet been told.
 
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