The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 9

XHF CHARI OTTE OBSFRVFR I www charlotte com FROM PAGE ONE THURSDAY OCTOB1 10 2002 9 A Race driver killed in wreck at speedway fromlA t- Death at the Track Driver Eric Martin was killed Wednesday in a crash at Lowe's Motor Speedway during an ARCA practice for the EasyCare 150 --n ki 1 Vv loses control out of Turn Four right rear tire hits wall He spins down the track as Ron Hornaday safely passes along the wall Martin's car conies to rest on the track and he radios crew he is OK A car driven by Deborah Renshaw coming out of Turn Four hits Martin's car on the side at at full speed Martin is killed instantly Renshaw is transported to University Hospital and Is later alert and talking Medical Office in Charlotte where a complete autopsy will be performed car was impounded by ARCA Renshaw 25 of Bowling Green Ky was taken by ambulance to University Hospital at 2:05 piru and she remained there in fair condition Wednesday evening She is scheduled for orthopedic surgery today family issued a statement through hospital spokesman Scott White: Renshaw family would like to express their condolences to the Martin family They hold Eric and his family in their hearts and prayers at this time of Renshaw was involved in a well-publicized tiff when a group of male drivers at a Nashville Temu track admitted conspiring to have her car inspected after a July race They took up a collection for the protest fee and she was disqualified for a minor infraction News of the controversy helped het land a ride next year on the Busch Series a notch below Winston Cup Wednesday both Martin and Renshaw were wearing the HANS (Head and Neck Support) device used to restrain head and neck movement in accidents JEFF SINER-STAFF PHOTO Team owner Wayne Hixson Is comforted by driver Kevin Belmont after Hixson's driver Eric Martin was killed Wednesday Martini SOURCE News reports ARCA a steppingstone series for the high-profile NASCAR Winston Cup and Grand National circuits implemented a rule requiring the use of a head-and-neck device by all its drivers in response to the death of Blaise Alexander Alexander suffered a basilar skull fracture after hitting the outside frontstretch wall in a late-race accident on Oct 4 2001 at the Concord track crash occurred at about 1:20 pm Wednesday NASCAR veteran Ron Homaday saw car spin car turned to the right and I went between him and he said the time I got into (Tims) 1 and 2 Doug (Richert crew chief) said You believe this That kid just got hit Just got hit hard Slow down STAFF GRAPHIC cated aboard the USS Gettysburg in port in Jacksonville Fla A Navy chaplain told Martin of the accident The Martins have two children Wheeler was unavailable for debris Speedway President HA Wheeler spoke to widow Tammy about 4 pm after Tammy Martin a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy was lo- comment working with family on funeral arrangements The delay between initial spin and the impact of car raised questions Wednesday over the role of the spotters Shelby Howard spun through (some oil) and just missed hitting said Bill Ven-turini a car owner and two-time series champion Renshaw was going into (Darns) 3 and 4 1 know what her spotter told her was standing on the trailer right next to her trailer and spotting for my son Billy I see car) It was down a little from the wall and right behind the medical center and from where we were standing you see that one section of the race ARCA requires all cars on the track to have a spotter stationed either on a hauler or in a stand located on the roof above the press box with two-way communication between the driver and the spotter Spokeswoman Danielle Frye said NASCAR does not require a team to have a spotter in place during practice sessions but that most teams provide one ARCA veteran Bob Schacht served as spotter Wednesday He was unavailable would have been on top of his transporter in our garage said ARCA President Ron Drager has taken steps to work with each of the speedways to see that all of the spotters are provided with credentials to provide them access to the roof area or at their option to spot off the top of their ARCA canceled qualifying for EasyCare 150 the season finale but the race will go on with the field set by car owner points Reigning series champion Frank Kimmel will start from the pole regulars the guys who raced with him every week they want to be here Venturini said just wanted to go home reason people come to ARCA is because a family atmosphere Granted a steppingstone for Winston Cup But the people who stay in ARCA stay because a family-run program Fve been here 20 years and why is the 15th death at Motor Speedway and the eighth driver death since the speedway opened in 1960 At least 295 people have died in auto racing in the United States since 1990 an Observer investigation has found including at least 25 deaths this year STAFF WRITERS JAIME LEVY AND ANDREW SHAIN CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ARTICLE Jim Utter covers NASCAR for ThatsRacmcom part of the Knight Ridder Digital network OFF STEPPINGSTONE SERIES ARCA draws less experience 0 What is ARCA? ARCA stands for the Automobile Racing Club of America The Temperance Mich-based organization has sanctioned stock-car races for nearly 60 years ARCA is not affiliated with NASCAR 0 Who drives in ARCA races? ARCA is considered a steppingstone to stock-car more prominent series including Winston Cup So it usually attracts younger and less experienced drivers Where does ARCA hold races? Almost half of races this year were held at major tracks that also have Winston Cup events including Daytona International Speedway Talladega Superspeedway and Motor Speedway How do ARCA cars differ from Winston Cup cars? Not much ARCA drivers usually pilot older Winston Cup cars The series requires head-and-neck restraints just as the Winston Cup does How many ARCA drivers have died since 1990? Seven the same as the number of Winston Cup drivers killed in the same period ANDREW SHAIN I.