A driver attempting to set a land speed record at Utah’s renowned Bonneville Salt Flats tragically died Sunday after losing control of his rocket-like vehicle, the “Speed Demon,” at an astonishing speed of 283 mph.
Chris Raschke, 60, crashed his streamliner — a slim, aerodynamic car built for extreme speeds — approximately two and a half miles into his run during the annual “SpeedWeek” event in Tooele County, organizers reported.
“Chris was attended to by medical professionals at the scene. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries,” said the Southern California Timing Association, the event’s organizer, in a statement.
Chris Raschke died Sunday after he lost control of his “Speed Demon” rocket-like vehicle.
Chris Raschke reached speeds of 283 mph before his fatal crash at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
“The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.”
It remains unclear what speed the experienced driver was targeting.
The Bonneville Salt Flats, a vast prehistoric lakebed located about 100 miles west of Salt Lake City, have long drawn thrill-seekers aiming to break speed records—sometimes exceeding 400 mph.
“Motorsports is inherently dangerous,” said Dennis Sullivan, president of the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association. “People get hurt. People get killed. That’s just the nature of the sport. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen often.”
One of the most recent racing fatalities at the flats was Sam Wheeler, a well-known land speed motorcycle racer, who crashed at 200 mph after his bike fishtailed and became airborne.
Raschke had worked in motor sports for over four decades, according to the Speed Demon racing team’s site.
He was a respected driver who also worked for a company that makes fasteners for race cars, according to Keith Pedersen, the association’s president and Speed Week race director.
“He is one of the big ones. He had done all sorts of racing,” Pedersen said.
