Chris Raschke tragically died on Sunday after he lost control of his vehicle while reportedly traveling at 283 mph during a record attempt at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), which hosts SpeedWeek at the Bonneville Salt Flats, released a statement confirming Raschke’s death. The event took place at approximately 3:03 p.m. Mountain Time, when Raschke was attempting a speed record and lost control of his land speed vehicle at around the 2 1/2 mile mark. Medical professionals treated him at the scene, but he passed away from his injuries. The cause of the incident is under investigation, with the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office currently examining the circumstances. Sgt. Dane Lerdahl, a spokesman for the law enforcement agency, told The Associated Press, ‘We know it was an accident of some sort.’
According to the SCTA, Raschke had reportedly reached a speed of 283 mph while driving the ‘Speed Demon.’ The exact record he was attempting to break remains unspecified, though Speed Demon Racing’s website notes that Raschke’s top speed in the streamliner was 391 mph. The American Hot Rod Foundation, which released a statement following Raschke’s death, described him as ‘piloting the latest iteration of the Speed Demon streamliner when the crash occurred.’ The foundation praised him as ‘the face of ARP,’ highlighting his unique blend of friendliness and competitiveness. His team expressed deep sorrow, writing, ‘We are deeply devastated.’
The Bonneville Salt Flats, located approximately 100 miles west of Salt Lake City, have been a renowned racing venue for over a century. The first race there took place in 1914, and the flats are known for their glass-like surface that offers ideal conditions for high-speed record attempts. However, the site has a tragic history, with the last known racing fatality occurring in 2016 when Sam Wheeler lost control of a high-performance bike at 200 mph. Both incidents underscore the inherent dangers of pursuing extreme speeds on such an environment.
Raschke’s death has prompted a renewed conversation about the risks involved in land speed racing, especially given the history of similar incidents at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The community and organizations involved in the sport are now likely to assess safety protocols and review incident reports to prevent future tragedies. As the investigation continues, the focus will remain on understanding the circumstances surrounding Raschke’s fatal accident and ensuring that measures are in place to protect future racers in similar endeavors.