Darrell Russell (dragster driver) facts for kids

Darrell James Russell (born September 20, 1968 – died June 27, 2004) was an American drag racer. He competed in the exciting sport of National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racing. In 2001, he was named the NHRA Rookie Of The Year, which is a big award for new drivers. He was also one of the very few drivers to win his first professional race!

Before racing in the top professional class, called Top Fuel Dragster, Darrell spent several years in a slower, amateur class. This class was known as Top Alcohol Dragster. He drove for famous drag racer Joe Amato for four seasons. During his time in Top Fuel, he won 106 races and was runner-up in 11 others. He entered 81 events and won six of them.

Darrell Russell's Final Race

In 2004, Darrell Russell was racing at the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals. This event took place at Gateway International Raceway in Illinois. During a race against Scott Kalitta, Darrell's dragster went out of control. It crashed just after crossing the finish line.

What Happened?

When the NHRA safety team reached Darrell, he was unconscious but still breathing. Emergency workers carefully removed him from his race car. He was then flown to a hospital in St. Louis. Sadly, he passed away later.

His dragster broke apart after he crossed the finish line. One of the rear Goodyear tires burst. This explosion damaged the back of the car. Pieces of the exploding tire flew into the driver's area. These flying pieces caused serious injuries to Darrell. It was the debris from the tire, not the crash impact, that led to his death.

Darrell suffered severe head injuries, even though he wore a special racing helmet. He was the first racer to die at an NHRA national event since Blaine Johnson in 1996. To remember Darrell, Gateway International Raceway named one of its grandstands "The Darrell Russell Stand." He was buried in the Klein Cemetery in Pinehurst, Texas. More than 2,000 people attended his funeral.

Making Racing Safer

After Darrell Russell's death, important changes were made to make drag racing safer. Goodyear quickly designed a new and better tire for Top Fuel cars. The NHRA then made it a rule that all Top Fuel cars had to use this new tire.

New Safety Rules

The new tires are made from a tougher material. This helps them resist punctures better. They also don't expand as much when spinning fast, which makes them safer. The NHRA also made other safety changes:

• They lowered the amount of nitromethane allowed in the fuel. This reduces the car's power.
• They changed the angle of the rear wing. This helps reduce how much the car is pushed down by air.
• They required a strong titanium shield to be placed behind the driver's head. This shield is about 2 millimeters thick. It helps block any flying pieces from reaching the driver.
• They also made sure that rear tires always have enough air pressure. Goodyear officials now check and adjust tire pressure at the starting line. This ensures the tires meet the minimum safety requirement of 7 psi (pounds per square inch).