Tony Roper (racing driver) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tony Roper |
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Roper in October 1997
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| Born | Anthony Dean Roper December 13, 1964 Springfield, Missouri, U.S. |
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| Died | October 14, 2000 (aged 35) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
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| Cause of death | Neck injury from racing accident in the O'Reilly 400 at Texas Motor Speedway | ||||||
| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 19 races run over 2 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 41st (1999) | ||||||
| First race | 1999 Diamond Hill Plywood 200 (Darlington) | ||||||
| Last race | 2000 Touchstone Energy 300 (Talladega) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career | |||||||
| 60 races run over 5 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 16th (1998) | ||||||
| First race | 1995 Sears Auto Center 125 (Milwaukee) | ||||||
| Last race | 2000 O'Reilly 400 (Texas) | ||||||
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Anthony Dean Roper (born December 13, 1964 – died October 14, 2000) was an American professional stock car racing driver. He competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Sadly, he passed away after getting hurt in a racing accident at Texas Motor Speedway.
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Tony Roper's Early Racing Career
Tony Roper was born in Springfield, Missouri. His family was very involved in car racing. His father, Dean Roper, was a well-known racer in the ARCA series and other stock car races.
Tony started his own racing journey in 1986. For six years, he raced different types of cars, like IMCA Modifieds and late models. He raced on both dirt and paved tracks across the Midwest. In 1992, he finished second for the Rookie of the Year Award in the American Speed Association. He began racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1995. Later, in 1999, he also started racing in the Busch Series.
The Accident and Tony's Passing
On October 13, 2000, Tony Roper was racing in the Craftsman Truck Series O'Reilly 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. During the race, he was involved in a crash while trying to pass two other drivers. His Ford truck touched another truck, causing it to turn sharply and hit the concrete wall.
Tony was unconscious after the crash. He was taken out of his truck and airlifted to a hospital in Dallas. Doctors found he had a very serious neck injury that stopped blood flow to his brain. He was put on a machine to help him breathe, but he passed away the next day, at 35 years old.
Tony Roper was one of several NASCAR drivers who died from racing injuries around that time. He was the third NASCAR driver to pass away in 2000. It was also the second death in the Craftsman Truck Series and the first racing death at Texas Motor Speedway.
A funeral service for Tony was held at the Fair Grove High School gym, where he had graduated. More than 600 people came to remember him.
Just a year later, on August 19, 2001, Tony's father, Dean Roper, also died in a racing accident. His father's death was caused by a heart attack during the crash. Both Tony and his father died in racing incidents within 10 months of each other.
Tony Roper's Lasting Impact
After Tony Roper's death, the Tony Roper Scholarship Fund was created. This fund still helps students today.
Tony's death, along with four other racing deaths over two years, led to big changes in NASCAR. These sad events made NASCAR require all drivers to use the HANS device. The HANS device is a safety tool that helps protect a driver's head and neck during a crash. This rule has made racing much safer for drivers.
Images for kids
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Tony Roper in October 1997
