This weekend, NASCAR will open modified racing legend Ted Christopher with a decal on the side of all cars.
#NASCAR ... Decal honoring Ted Christopher that will be on cars this weekend at @NHMS @NASCARonNBC pic.twitter.com/sljTM6mf3o
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) September 22, 2017
Christopher tragically died in a plane crash last week. He was 59.
Christopher was on his way to a race at Riverhead Raceway in New York when his plane went down in Connecticut, NBC Sports reported. The pilot was also killed.
NASCAR, under the name of Chairman and CEO Brian France, released the following statement:
Statement from NASCAR CEO Brian France on Ted Christopher. pic.twitter.com/IJnQuvHFz9
— NASCAR Regional (@NASCARRegional) September 17, 2017
"As a championship driver on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and New England short tracks, Christopher was a throwback to NASCAR's roots," said NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France. "He was a tough racer's racer, and his hard driving style and candid personality endeared him to short track fans throughout the country. He will be missed throughout the racing community, in the garage and, especially, in the hearts of his many fans."
Christopher's career is indeed legendary. He won the 2008 NASCAR Whelen Tour Modified champion, and two years prior, in 2006, was voted as one of the top 25 drivers in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series history. He raced at every level of NASCAR, including the Cup series (six starts), the XFinity Series (21 starts), and the Camping World Truck Series (two starts).
The Hartford Courant also noted he's won more races than any other driver at both Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway.
The Courant spoke to a witness, Carrie Carigan, who hiked into the woods after hearing the crash: who described a terrible scene:
"The plane is literally straight up and down. They were saying maybe it hit a tree and literally went straight down -- it was just horrific. The nose is down and the wings and everything are just spread out through the woods. I really didn't want to look at it too much."
NASCAR's top names quickly took to social media to offer condolences:
So very sad to hear of Ted Christopher's passing...Greatness passes into Legend #RIP
— Kyle Petty (@kylepetty) September 16, 2017
Heard the news of this just moments after walking into VL. Very sad. He was a legend. https://t.co/oOtdDjF58J
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 16, 2017
So very sad to hear of Ted Christopher's passing...Greatness passes into Legend #RIP
— Kyle Petty (@kylepetty) September 16, 2017
Another one of the greats gone too soon. Was lucky to race with and learn from such a true racer and fierce competitor. Rip TC13
— Martin Truex Jr. (@MartinTruex_Jr) September 17, 2017