Tragedy Strikes at Thompson Icebreaker
THOMPSON, Conn. — Four laps into today’s NEMA Midget feature, 27-year-old Shane Hammond was fatally injured in a crash in the third turn. Hammond’s car launched over the wheel of #22 Chris Leonard of Pelham, NH before striking a billboard. Hammond was driving the #4x car as a teammate to former champion Nokie Fornoro. Both cars are owned by Mike Jarret.
Personnel were quick to respond to the scene. Hammond was extricated from the car and CPR was performed on him before he was transported by ambulance to Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, CT.
NEMA has been sanctioning midget auto racing since the 1953 season. Their last fatality was in June 1965 when Ed Clothier crashed into the fence at Westboro Speedway. As of 6:30PM, the NEMA race scheduled for next Sunday at Waterford Speedbowl is still slated to run. This is ninth fatality; the last at the facilitiy was John Blewett, III perished in a NASCAR Whelen Modified race last August.
His first NEMA start came at the Adirondack Speedway on August 9, 2003 with the Cabral #35. Shane was the recipient of the 2004 Ed Clothier Rookie of the Year Award; That season he earned four top-ten finishes to his credit. His best career finish was fourth place, which he achieved on four occasions. This includes the Thompson World Series last fall.
Sources: MotorsportMemorial.com/Norm Marx Photography/NEMARacing.com