By AP / KWMU
Madison, IL – Darrell Russell had just lost in the second round of eliminations at the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals when his dragster came apart.
The 35-year-old Russell was traveling at about 300 mph and was near the end of the quarter-mile strip when
the accident occurred.
He was unconscious when rescuers pulled him out of the wreckage and took him to St. Louis University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Russell lived in Hockley, Texas. He was the 2001 NHRA rookie of the year and had six career Top Fuel victories.