Posted on 04/04/2005 7:48:48 PM PDT by BansheeBill
But even the most rock steady fan of the NHRA and its Lucas Oil Sportsman division has truly been shaken and saddened by the freak accident in Tulsa, Okla., on Saturday evening that claimed the life of Top Alcohol Dragster star Shelly Howard and her son, Brian.
The details of the accident will surely be discussed and dissected over time as the tragedy continues to sink in. According to reports, the 59-year-old Shelly was making a test pass in a newly delivered racecar at Tulsa Raceway Park when the dragster's front end lifted vertically somewhere near half-track, sending it into an uncontrollable blowover.
The car crashed heavily back onto the racing surface facing the starting line. Then, with her husband, Paul, looking on helplessly, the racecar accelerated back toward the starting line at high speed, crashing into the team's tow vehicle which was parked at the starting line with Shelly's son, 36-year-old Brian, sitting inside the cab.
Shelly and Brian lost their lives almost simultaneously in what those in attendance have described as one of the sport's most horrifying mishaps. Police estimated the car hit the truck at 250 mph. And while the accident itself is an unspeakably freakish tragedy, the circumstances and magnitude of the two lives ultimately lost seem to add an even greater dimension of inexplicable sadness to what was witnessed.
"She was certainly a great competitor and a great champion with the NHRA,'' Anthony Vestal, director of media relations for the NHRA, told the Tulsa World.
"Certainly, incidents involving a fatality are very rare. We have millions of cars go down the track each year and while there are incidents, the results being that extreme are very rare.''
Shelly Howard was a standout racer, a former Division 4 champion, a former registered nurse who won respect from everyone she encountered with her quiet manner, unquestioned driving skills, and devotion to her family, fans and crew. She also leaves behind two daughters, Jennifer and Tracy, and a legion of friends who came to know and admire her through her NHRA exploits.
Another bright light has been lost in the NHRA family as the sport has barely had time to heal from last year's loss of Top Fuel's Darrell Russell, another native of the state of Texas.
The cause, the outcome, and the aftermath of Saturday's nightmarish accident in Tulsa are all secondary to the magnitude of deep mourning that has swept across the hearts of drag racing fans everywhere.
Simply stated, this one really hurt and as we all offer our sincerest prayers and condolences to the Howard family, we will have to accept that it will take time to put these painful moments behind us.
Bill Stephens covers NHRA for ESPN.com.
The following was posted by a friend of the driver, Shelly Howard, on a web auto discussion forum:
Shelly was a friend. We talked every month or so. I went to F/C and T/F a long time ago and we still remained friends (inside joke). We all know what can happen but this does not make this any easier.
God, I am going to miss her. Anyone who knew her will state the same. This is a tragedy magnified.
And Paul and the girls I cannot imagine the devastation to losing 2/5 of the family and being there in a horrific situation. Plesse keep them in your thoughts.
Brian was handicapped but had one hell of a personality. Brian was Shelly's personal mission in life. He could not get out of the tow vehicle.
God Speed Shelly and Brian. We will miss you so much and we are all the less without having you around.
Services will be at 11:00 AM on Wed. April 6, 2005
Newspring Assembly of God Church
2907 W. 108 Pl. S.
Jenks, OK
Jenks is a suburb South of Tulsa.
Intersection of Hwy 75 & Creek Turnpike Hwy 75 & 111th St. South
At traffic light turn East 1 block
The family has asked in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Racers For Christ in memory of Shelly and Special Olympics in memory of Brian.
FOR SHELLY HOWARD
SEND DONATIONS TO: RACERS FOR CHRIST
PO BOX 1208
GILBERT, AZ 885299-1208
FOR BRIAN HOWARD
SEND DONATIONS TO: SPECIAL OLYMPICS
1133 19TH STREET
WASHINGTON,DC 20036
WWW.SPECIALOLYMPICS.ORG
Bizarre accident. Tragic
just......damn!
just......damn!
just damn ditto
I love the smell of high octane and burnt rubber in the mornings. Afternoons and evenings, too. My prayers go to the survivors.
It was just their day to die. No other way to explain it.
ping for the ping list
John Force doing his nose over was pretty bizarre.
ping
Yeah, drag racing sure does produce some fantastic accidents. Usually no one gets hurt seriously because the car flips and rolls. The worst thing you can do at high speed is run into a solid object.
The Change to the funeral services are as follows:
Funeral services for Shelly and Brian Howard: Services will now be at 11:00 AM on Wed. April 6, 2005
Newspring Assembly of God Church
2907 W. 108 Pl. S.
Jenks, OK
Jenks is a suburb South of Tulsa.
Intersection of Hwy 75 & Creek Turnpike Hwy 75 & 111th St. South
At traffic light turn East 1 block
The family has asked in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Racers For Christ in memory of Shelly and Special Olympics in memory of Brian.
The memorial page will be presented starting later today.
Shelly Howard and son Brian .........remember
Do you have the ping list?
Done, thanks
What a tragedy! prayers up!
I wonder how long before NHRA institutes a manditory engine kill switch like the Monster Trucks have had and NASCAR added a few years ago.
Wow!! I'm a NASCAR fan who never heard of this lady before but this really sucks the oxygen out of the room. Prayer go out to her family.
I was just in Tulsa 2 weeks ago on vacation, this is really sad.
Bdad
I wonder if the strong torques that these cars go through make the switches undesirable because of kills that aren't needed?
I was thinking that they would go with the type like the Monster Trucks use, run by the track safety crew.
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