BobbyC
17th August 2007, 12:21
Tragic news from Thompson (CT) International Speedway.
A very freak crash involving two brothers from Howell, NJ, leaves one dead during Thursday's New England Dodge Dealers 150 Whelen Modified Tour event in Thompson, Connecticut.
John Blewett III, a 33-year old driver in his 13th year with 10 wins in the Tour, was killed in a three-car crash on Lap 107 of the 150-lap race while racing for the lead with his brother Jimmy, 26, a fourth-year driver with two wins.
A third driver was involved (the fourth-place driver) but was not injured.
The race was red-flagged, and track cleanup took over 45 minutes from the 9:47 PM crash, with it taking 33 minutes to remove John from his car.
A source who was at the scene told the Hartford Courtant the rear bumper of Jimmy's car went through John's helmet.
Shortly after 10:35 PM, when the cars were removed from the track, the track announcer announced the race was stopped, although no official reason was given in the report, but there is a midnight curfew at the track.
The brothers began an aggressive battle for the lead on lap 89.
Jimmy was leading on a lap 89 restart when John moved to second behind him. The two made contact for the first time on lap 90 in turn 4. On lap 93, John went by Jimmy for the lead in turn 2, only to give way to a move by Jimmy in turn 4.
John went back by for the lead again before the caution flew on lap 94. After a restart on lap 98, Jimmy went back to the front before another caution on lap 100.
On the ensuing restart on lap 107, Jimmy got sideways coming to the green and the two crisscrossed down the front, with John going to the low lane into turn 1. In the corner Jimmy got loose, coming down into his brother. During the contact between the two, Jimmy's car ended on top of John's.
It was at this same event on Aug. 19, 2004, that driver Tom Baldwin (the father of current NNCS crew chief Tom Baldwin, Jr.) of Freeport, N.Y., was killed after his car slid into a light standard in the infield during a wreck. Baldwin was the last driver killed at the track and the last Modified driver killed in an event.
Both of the Blewetts also competed in Thompson's weekly SK Modified division and were involved together in an accident on a restart early in the event.
http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-thompson0817.artaug17,0,6811231.story
A very freak crash involving two brothers from Howell, NJ, leaves one dead during Thursday's New England Dodge Dealers 150 Whelen Modified Tour event in Thompson, Connecticut.
John Blewett III, a 33-year old driver in his 13th year with 10 wins in the Tour, was killed in a three-car crash on Lap 107 of the 150-lap race while racing for the lead with his brother Jimmy, 26, a fourth-year driver with two wins.
A third driver was involved (the fourth-place driver) but was not injured.
The race was red-flagged, and track cleanup took over 45 minutes from the 9:47 PM crash, with it taking 33 minutes to remove John from his car.
A source who was at the scene told the Hartford Courtant the rear bumper of Jimmy's car went through John's helmet.
Shortly after 10:35 PM, when the cars were removed from the track, the track announcer announced the race was stopped, although no official reason was given in the report, but there is a midnight curfew at the track.
The brothers began an aggressive battle for the lead on lap 89.
Jimmy was leading on a lap 89 restart when John moved to second behind him. The two made contact for the first time on lap 90 in turn 4. On lap 93, John went by Jimmy for the lead in turn 2, only to give way to a move by Jimmy in turn 4.
John went back by for the lead again before the caution flew on lap 94. After a restart on lap 98, Jimmy went back to the front before another caution on lap 100.
On the ensuing restart on lap 107, Jimmy got sideways coming to the green and the two crisscrossed down the front, with John going to the low lane into turn 1. In the corner Jimmy got loose, coming down into his brother. During the contact between the two, Jimmy's car ended on top of John's.
It was at this same event on Aug. 19, 2004, that driver Tom Baldwin (the father of current NNCS crew chief Tom Baldwin, Jr.) of Freeport, N.Y., was killed after his car slid into a light standard in the infield during a wreck. Baldwin was the last driver killed at the track and the last Modified driver killed in an event.
Both of the Blewetts also competed in Thompson's weekly SK Modified division and were involved together in an accident on a restart early in the event.
http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-thompson0817.artaug17,0,6811231.story