Veteran dragster racer Al Zukauskas from Chicago, Illinois, lost his life on Saturday afternoon, 22 July 2023, while competing in the IHRA "Night of Fire" event at the Quaker City Motorsports Park near Salem, Ohio.
Al "Zee" Zukauskas was match racing with Russ Glover, starting from the left lane of the quarter-mile dragstrip. While going 286 mi/h (460 km/h), for unknown causes he crashed. According to a video footage captured by some spectators, the jet dragster collided with the track's side wall and exploded. Then the vehicle rolled over and caught fire.
Al Zukauskas was at the helm of his "Hot Blade" jet dragster, built by Bill Mattio of Chicago Heights, Illinois, and powered by a Jet Kerosene J85 General Electric thrust engine.
Located in West South Range Road, a few miles north of Salem, Ohio, the Quaker City Motorsports Park canceled all the racing events scheduled to be held at the track in the following weeks.
R.I.P
Al "Zee" Zukauskas was match racing with Russ Glover, starting from the left lane of the quarter-mile dragstrip. While going 286 mi/h (460 km/h), for unknown causes he crashed. According to a video footage captured by some spectators, the jet dragster collided with the track's side wall and exploded. Then the vehicle rolled over and caught fire.
Al Zukauskas was at the helm of his "Hot Blade" jet dragster, built by Bill Mattio of Chicago Heights, Illinois, and powered by a Jet Kerosene J85 General Electric thrust engine.
Located in West South Range Road, a few miles north of Salem, Ohio, the Quaker City Motorsports Park canceled all the racing events scheduled to be held at the track in the following weeks.
R.I.P
Category
🚗
Motor