Veteran driver Chris Raschke dies in high-speed crash at Bonneville Salt Flats
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Aug 05, 2025, 23:32 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Highlight of the story: Chris Raschke, a veteran motorsports driver, tragically died at the Bonneville Salt Flats while attempting to set a land speed record. Raschke lost control of the Speed Demon streamliner at 283 mph during a run at Speed Week. The SCTA and Tooele County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the accident, which occurred during the long-standing land-speed racing event.
Chris Raschke, a veteran motorsports driver, died Sunday while attempting to set a land speed record at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats. Raschke was traveling at 283 mph in the Speed Demon streamliner when he lost control of the vehicle approximately two and a half miles into a run, according to event organizers.
Medical personnel responded to the crash site, but Raschke, 60, succumbed to his injuries at the scene, the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) said in a statement. The SCTA has organized Speed Week, the long-standing land-speed racing event, since the late 1940s.
The fatal crash is under investigation by both the SCTA and the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office. “We know it was an accident of some sort,” said Sgt. Dane Lerdahl, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office.
Raschke was driving the Speed Demon, a rocket-like, high-performance streamliner designed for record-breaking runs. The vehicle is part of a prominent team within the land speed racing community. The exact speed target for the attempt has not been disclosed.
“Motorsports is inherently a dangerous sport,” said Dennis Sullivan, president of the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association and a record-setting racer himself. “People get hurt. People get killed. That’s just the nature of the sport. It doesn’t happen a lot.”
Sullivan emphasized that land speed racing includes rigorous safety measures, including reinforced roll cages, specialized tires, and onboard fire suppression systems. The last fatality at the flats occurred in 2016, when famed motorcycle racer Sam Wheeler crashed while testing a high-speed bike.
The Bonneville Salt Flats, located roughly 100 miles west of Salt Lake City, have long been a destination for racers seeking to push the limits of speed. The site’s vast, glasslike surface, formed from a prehistoric lakebed, has hosted record attempts since 1914. Some runs have exceeded 400 mph.
Unlike traditional racetracks, Bonneville does not feature grandstands. Spectators must watch from a safe distance, about two-tenths of a mile away from the course.
Raschke had a deep history in motorsports, beginning his career at Ventura Raceway in the early 1980s. Over four decades, he worked as a racer, fabricator, and driver. He also worked in the racing industry, manufacturing fasteners for high-performance vehicles.
“He is one of the big ones. He had done all sorts of racing,” said Keith Pedersen, SCTA president and Speed Week race director.
Speed Week began Saturday and is scheduled to run through Friday. Despite the tragedy, the racing community continues to honor Raschke’s legacy and contributions to the sport.
Medical personnel responded to the crash site, but Raschke, 60, succumbed to his injuries at the scene, the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) said in a statement. The SCTA has organized Speed Week, the long-standing land-speed racing event, since the late 1940s.
The fatal crash is under investigation by both the SCTA and the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office. “We know it was an accident of some sort,” said Sgt. Dane Lerdahl, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office.
Raschke was driving the Speed Demon, a rocket-like, high-performance streamliner designed for record-breaking runs. The vehicle is part of a prominent team within the land speed racing community. The exact speed target for the attempt has not been disclosed.
“Motorsports is inherently a dangerous sport,” said Dennis Sullivan, president of the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association and a record-setting racer himself. “People get hurt. People get killed. That’s just the nature of the sport. It doesn’t happen a lot.”
Sullivan emphasized that land speed racing includes rigorous safety measures, including reinforced roll cages, specialized tires, and onboard fire suppression systems. The last fatality at the flats occurred in 2016, when famed motorcycle racer Sam Wheeler crashed while testing a high-speed bike.
The Bonneville Salt Flats, located roughly 100 miles west of Salt Lake City, have long been a destination for racers seeking to push the limits of speed. The site’s vast, glasslike surface, formed from a prehistoric lakebed, has hosted record attempts since 1914. Some runs have exceeded 400 mph.
Unlike traditional racetracks, Bonneville does not feature grandstands. Spectators must watch from a safe distance, about two-tenths of a mile away from the course.
Raschke had a deep history in motorsports, beginning his career at Ventura Raceway in the early 1980s. Over four decades, he worked as a racer, fabricator, and driver. He also worked in the racing industry, manufacturing fasteners for high-performance vehicles.
“He is one of the big ones. He had done all sorts of racing,” said Keith Pedersen, SCTA president and Speed Week race director.
Speed Week began Saturday and is scheduled to run through Friday. Despite the tragedy, the racing community continues to honor Raschke’s legacy and contributions to the sport.