Red Bull Team Member Killed:

BobbyFord

BobbyFord

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A member of a NASCAR team was shot to death outside his home in Alexander County late Saturday. Jimmy Sprinkle, 44, was a mechanic for the Red Bull racing team. He had been a member of the test team crew for about a year. Sprinkle lived on a farm in northeast Alexander County north of Hiddenite. He spent the afternoon working on his yard, then saw someone coming down his long gravel driveway around 10:30pm. Saturday and went out to investigate. That's when the person shot him once in the chest and died at Iredell Memorial Office. Alexander County investigators and State Bureau of Investigation agents believe they've found the shooter's vehicle, a white 1980s model Monte Carlo with a dark blue top. They are not commenting on a motive in the case. Although Sprinkle had spent much of his life in and around racing, his wife says he also had a life away from the track. "We live in the farming community, he helped plow many gardens, he's out with fertilizer, anything they need to do with cattle and horses," Sylvia Sprinkle said. Family members are still in disbelief and have many unanswered questions. Vickers' team released a statement on Monday regarding Sprinkle's death. "He was a good guy, just a really good guy. He helped everybody," said Sprinkle's sister-in-law, Marcella Barlowe. "I just want to know who and I want to know why. I just want them to be caught. We are shocked and deeply saddened by the unfortunate loss of Jimmy Sprinkle's life. We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Jimmy's family and friends. Jimmy was one of those hard-working crew guys with great personality that don't come around very often. Jimmy will be sorely missed at the race shop and at the track," it read. The team, based in Mooresville, had a moment of silence at the start of the day for their lost member. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Alexander Crime Stoppers at (828) 632-8555.(wsoctv.com.(4-2-2007)
 
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This is strange, and sad. How many time have you heard of someone walking up a gravel, rural driveway and killing someone? Has to be some sort of history here...JMO
 
Hopefully it won't be because "he helped plow many gardens". Cause this almost sounds like he plowed 1 garden too many - if you catch my drift.
 
UPDATE: Police say they have identified a suspect in the shooting death of James “Jimmy” Sprinkle, a NASCAR crew team member and Hiddenite resident, but they are not naming names just yet. And no charges have been filed. Sprinkle, of Center Church Road, died Saturday at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville. Sprinkle, was shot once in the chest about 10:30pm/et at his home. Authorities located a vehicle believed to have been used in the shooting. They spent much of Monday combing the car for evidence. “We are making substantial progress in the case, and hope to make an arrest soon,” Capt. Keith Warren of the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office said. The shooting stunned Sprinkle’s friend, Phil Keever. “It’s beyond me,” Keever said. “This came from left field.” Keever was with Sprinkle shortly before he was killed. “He was helping me fertilize my pasture,” Keever, 48, said. “We were going to borrow his flatbed truck to load golf carts so my dad could take them to Virginia. “I dropped Jimmy off at his house about 7:30 p.m.” Sprinkle tested race cars for Team Red Bull, a Nextel Cup team based in Mooresville. He previously worked for Evernham Motorsports Marty Gaunt, vice president and general manager of Team Red Bull, issued this statement: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the unfortunate loss of Jimmy Sprinkle’s life. We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Jimmy’s family and friends. Jimmy was one of those hard-working crew guys with great personality that don’t come around very often. Jimmy will be sorely missed at the race shop and at the track.”(Hickory Record)
Survivors include: his wife, Sylvia Dyson Sprinkle, of the home; his step-father, Willie Feimster of Taylorsville; a sister, Susan McLain and husband, Marty, of Hiddenite; a step-sister, Diana and husband, Shaun Cory, of Banner Elk; a step-brother, Chuck Feimster, of Waxhaw; two nephews, Darren and Kelly McLain of Hiddenite. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitiation is scheduled for today: Adams Funeral Home, 307 Main Avenue Drive, Taylorsville, NC. Tuesday, April 3 from 4:00-8:00pm/et. The funeral will be conducted at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at Fairview Baptist Church by the Revs. Tony Dyson and Ruel Fox. Memorials may be given to Motor Racing Outreach, 5555 Concord Parkway S., Suite 405, Concord, N.C. 28027 (Jayski.com)
 
UPDATE 2: A Taylorsville man was charged with the Saturday slaying of James Sprinkle, a NASCAR mechanic for Team Red Bull, according to the Alexander County Sheriff's Office. Earl Wayne Flowers, 51, of Gravel Hill Court, was arrested at about 3 p.m. Thursday. He received no bond and was in the Alexander County Detention Center Thursday, charged with one count of murder.(Charlotte Observer)(4-5-2007).
 
From the Hickory, NC Record.

http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servle...DR_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173350602472

Arrest made in crewman murder
Suspect's lengthy record shows violent past


By JENNIFER MENSTER
Record Staff Writer
Thursday, April 5, 2007


HICKORY - Sheriff’s deputies made an arrest Thursday afternoon in the murder of a NASCAR crewman.

Earl Wayne Flowers, 51, of Taylorsville, is charged with murder. Deputies say Flowers shot James “Jimmy” Sprinkle, 44, outside Sprinkle’s Hiddenite home late Saturday. Sprinkle worked as a crewman for Team Red Bull, a NASCAR Nextel Cup team based in Mooresville.

Flowers was arrested without incident at his home on Gravel Hill Court in Taylorsville around 3 p.m. Thursday. Investigators are not releasing many details of Flowers’ arrest. Alexander County Sheriff’s Capt. Keith Warren said the victim and suspect did not know each other.

Sprinkle was shot once in the chest. Investigators say a car pulled up in Sprinkle’s driveway about 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Investigators say Sprinkle was shot when he went outside to confront the driver. The suspect vehicle was found a day later.

Flowers is in the Alexander County Detention Center without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

Flowers’ criminal background dates back to 1975, according to the N.C. Department of Correction. Some of his felony convictions include possession of stolen goods, rape, kidnapping and escaping prison.

Warren said the investigation is continuing.

[email protected] | 322-4510 x5409 or 304-6916


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I know someone that lives in the area and her daughter went to school with Jimmy.

When this woman was ill, her grass was growing tall in the yard and she was not able to cut it. Jimmy noticed it and heard about her situation and he came by to cut it for her.... no charge; just someone that cared about others.

Sounds like Jimmy was one of those good-guys that was a good neighbor and a good friend to all.

This is really sad. This sort of thing can't happen if you have enough prisons to house this sort of scum.
This week, we are burying two Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers that were gunned down by some scumbag that should have been in prison.

The cost of housing prisoners is high. But can you even measure the cost of losing a loved one?
 
Two things

First I betcha the killing was NOT random!
Second We don't owe these badasses prison sentences of the rest of their lives! Prison should be brief and HARD! Not a walk in the springtime! Death sentences should be quickly carried out and all sentences over 15 years should be death! Second or for sure third offences should be death! We, the tax payers don't owe these offenders ANYTHING!
Betsy :rolleyes:
 
Betsy, Kat says drop them off in Antartica, nude and with no supplies! Let the penguins feast on them!
 
Now y'all know you're looking to get castigated (if you were men I'd say castrated) by some of the liberal weenies who want to uphold the criminal's rights and to hell with the victims.
 
barelypure said:
Now y'all know you're looking to get castigated (if you were men I'd say castrated) by some of the liberal weenies who want to uphold the criminal's rights and to hell with the victims.
Click to expand...

I wish they would hurry!!! I for one will give them an earfull.
Betsy;)
 
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