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Drag Racer Dies at Fontana Speedway
KTLA News
8:02 AM PDT, August 9, 2009
(KTLA News)
(KTLA News)
FONTANA -- A drag racer was killed Saturday at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.
The crash happened at 8:30 a.m. in the pit area of the race complex, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Ronald F. Marcum, 53, of La Habra was seated behind the steering wheel of a dragster conducting a transmission-brake test, CHP Officer Jeff Briggs said.
The test involves revving the vehicle's engine at high RPMs while the transmission is not engaged.
National Hot Rod Association rules require such tests to be conducted with a vehicle's tires off the ground, but Marcum did not follow that procedure, according to Briggs.
While Marcum revved the engine, the dragster's transmission suddenly engaged, and the vehicle sped off at more than 100 miles per hour.
The dragster crashed into a parked trailer.
Briggs said only that Marcum sustained fatal injuries in the crash.
No one else was hurt.
The Category Drag Races were being held at the speedway complex.
