UPDATE 3: Blaise Alexander, 25, died Thursday of severe head injuries sustained in an accident during an ARCA race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. With four laps remaining in the Easy Care 100, Alexander and Kerry Earnhardt collided as Alexander passed Earnhardt for the lead. Just past the start-finish line, the right rear of Alexander’s car made contact with the left front of Earnhardt’s, sending the cars spinning and Alexander head-on into the wall. Earnhardt’s car flipped and skidded upside-down along the frontstretch. Alexander’s car came to rest in the infield grass. When emergency medical technicians arrived, Alexander had no pulse and showed no life signs. He was transferred to the track’s infield care center, where doctors tried to revive Alexander for 25 minutes. They pronounced him dead at 10:20pm/et. ARCA President Ron Drager said Alexander had been wearing the required “horse collar,” a foam device designed to restrict the movement of the driver’s head in an accident. The collar was manufactured by Simpson Performance Products, and there was no apparent failure of the collar. Alexander wasn’t wearing any other head-and-neck restraint system. Kerry Earnhardt was taken to the track’s infield care center but was not injured. He later returned to the facility and found Norris. The two went inside to be with Alexander’s family. Wednesday’s race was called after the accident and Earnhardt declared the winner, having led the last completed lap. Alexander was credited with second.(Full story at That’s Racin’ and more news at the ARCA Racing site)(10-5-2001)
UPDATE: Preliminary autopsy results show Alexander, 25, of Mooresville, died from a skull fracture similar to those that killed Dale Earnhardt and at least four other NASCAR drivers in the past 17 months. Alexander’s funeral is Tuesday in his hometown of Montoursville, Pa. Plans are being made for a local memorial service.(That’s Racin’) and some good columns: Car owner helped young racer’s career and Blame difficult to pin down, may depend on where you stand
UPDATE 2: Funeral services for Blaise Alexander, who was killed in a crash during the EasyCare 100 ARCA race Thursday at Lowes Motor Speedway, have been set for Tuesday, Oct. 9th at 10:30am/et, at Our Lady of Lords Catholic Church in Montoursville, PA. A visitation service will be held from 2:00 – 10:00pm/et, Monday at Spitler Funeral Home in Montoursville. For directions, please call (570) 368-8352. Also, a memorial service will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 10th at 11:00am/et, at Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC.(NASCAR.com)(10-6-2001) The Alexander family has asked those who wish to make donations in honor of Blaise, should send them to: “Make-A-Wish” Foundation of Northeastern Pennsylvania c/o 515 Sandhill Road Montoursville, PA 17754 Thanks to Motorsports Fan Report for image
