Darrell Russell (drag racer)
Encyclopedia
Darrell Russell was an NHRA drag racer. He was the 2001 NHRA Rookie Of The Year. At the time, he was only the third driver to win in his Professional debut.
Before becoming a driver in NHRA's Professional class of Top Fuel Dragster, he competed for several years in NHRA's Sportsman (amateur) class of Top Alcohol Dragster; a slower version of Top Fuel. In four seasons of competition in NHRA Top Fuel Dragsters, he compiled a record of 106 round wins versus 75 loses. He won six events and was runner-up at eleven others, out of eighty-one events entered.
He was fatally injured during eliminations at the Sears
Craftsman Nationals in Madison, Illinois
. He was competing in the second round of eliminations when his dragster went out of control and crashed just past the finish line. When the NHRA safety team got to Russell, he was unconscious, but breathing. Russell was extracted from his dragster by NHRA emergency services officials and transported by air to the St. Louis Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. His dragster broke up after he crossed the finish line. One of the rear Goodyear
tires blew out, damaging the back part of the race car. Shrapnel caused by the exploding tire entered the drivers cockpit from the rear, fatally injuring Russell. It was flying debris from the explosion, not the crash, that killed Darrell Russell.
He died of severe head injuries. Russell is the first racer to be killed at an NHRA national event since Blaine Johnson
, in 1996. Gateway named one of its grandstands "The Darrell Russell Stand" in his memory.
He was interred in the Klein Cemetery in Pinehurst, Texas
in Montgomery County. Over 2,000 people attended his funeral.
Immediately after Russell's death, Goodyear released an improved version of the tire that is used on all NHRA top fuel cars. The new tires were a harder compound, to prevent failures, and designed to expand less, to slow the cars down slightly. NHRA required that all top fuel cars switch to the new tires for the next race. NHRA also reduced the maximum nitromethane
content of the fuel from 90% to 85%, changed the maximum primary rear wing element angle to 2 degrees positive (measured when dragster is at rest), and required that top fuel cars install a 2mm (0.090-inch) thick titanium
shield on the portion of the rollcage that is behind the driver's head. They also required that the rear tires have no less than the minimum manufacturer recommended tire pressure (7psi). To enforce this, Goodyear officials check and adjust the rear tire pressures at the starting line.
Before becoming a driver in NHRA's Professional class of Top Fuel Dragster, he competed for several years in NHRA's Sportsman (amateur) class of Top Alcohol Dragster; a slower version of Top Fuel. In four seasons of competition in NHRA Top Fuel Dragsters, he compiled a record of 106 round wins versus 75 loses. He won six events and was runner-up at eleven others, out of eighty-one events entered.
He was fatally injured during eliminations at the Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
Craftsman Nationals in Madison, Illinois
Madison, Illinois
Madison is a city in Madison County and partially in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,545 at the 2000 census. It is home to Gateway International Raceway and the first Bulgarian Orthodox church in the United States.-Geography:...
. He was competing in the second round of eliminations when his dragster went out of control and crashed just past the finish line. When the NHRA safety team got to Russell, he was unconscious, but breathing. Russell was extracted from his dragster by NHRA emergency services officials and transported by air to the St. Louis Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. His dragster broke up after he crossed the finish line. One of the rear Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
tires blew out, damaging the back part of the race car. Shrapnel caused by the exploding tire entered the drivers cockpit from the rear, fatally injuring Russell. It was flying debris from the explosion, not the crash, that killed Darrell Russell.
He died of severe head injuries. Russell is the first racer to be killed at an NHRA national event since Blaine Johnson
Blaine Johnson
Blaine H. Johnson was a professional drag racer.Blaine, along with his life-long crew chief and brother, Alan, were competitors in the NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster Series, a series which they entered in 1988...
, in 1996. Gateway named one of its grandstands "The Darrell Russell Stand" in his memory.
He was interred in the Klein Cemetery in Pinehurst, Texas
Pinehurst, Montgomery County, Texas
Pinehurst is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,266 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pinehurst is located at ....
in Montgomery County. Over 2,000 people attended his funeral.
Immediately after Russell's death, Goodyear released an improved version of the tire that is used on all NHRA top fuel cars. The new tires were a harder compound, to prevent failures, and designed to expand less, to slow the cars down slightly. NHRA required that all top fuel cars switch to the new tires for the next race. NHRA also reduced the maximum nitromethane
Nitromethane
Nitromethane is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest organic nitro compound. It is a slightly viscous, highly polar liquid commonly used as a solvent in a variety of industrial applications such as in extractions, as a reaction medium, and as a cleaning solvent...
content of the fuel from 90% to 85%, changed the maximum primary rear wing element angle to 2 degrees positive (measured when dragster is at rest), and required that top fuel cars install a 2mm (0.090-inch) thick titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
shield on the portion of the rollcage that is behind the driver's head. They also required that the rear tires have no less than the minimum manufacturer recommended tire pressure (7psi). To enforce this, Goodyear officials check and adjust the rear tire pressures at the starting line.