Veteran driver Chris Raschke tragically passed away on Sunday after losing control of his vehicle while attempting to set a record at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. He was 60 years old.
The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), which hosts SpeedWeek at the Bonneville Salt Flats, confirmed Raschke’s death in a statement.
Raschke, 60, had reportedly reached a speed of 283 mph while driving the “Speed Demon.” (Marc Gewertz Photography)
“At approximately 3:03 p.m. Mountain Time today, driver Chris Raschke, age 60, was attempting a speed record and lost control of his land speed vehicle at approximately the 2 1/2 mile mark. Chris was treated by medical professionals at the scene. Unfortunately, Chris passed away from his injuries,” the SCTA statement read.
SCTA mentioned that the cause of the incident is currently under investigation, with the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office looking into the matter.
Raschke had previously reached a top speed of 283 mph while driving the “Speed Demon.” The SCTA did not specify the specific record he was trying to break. Raschke’s top speed in the streamliner was 446.716 mph, achieved during the same event in 2024.
According to Speed Demon Racing’s website, Raschke’s top speed in the streamliner was 391 mph. (Marc Gewertz Photography)
The American Hot Rod Foundation expressed their condolences following Raschke’s passing, highlighting his friendly yet competitive nature on the salt flats.
The Bonneville Salt Flats, located approximately 100 miles west of Salt Lake City, have been a popular racing location for decades due to their smooth surface. The first race was held there in 1914.
Cars form a line near the race track at the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah, Aug. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
The last known racing fatality at the flats occurred in 2016 when Sam Wheeler lost control of a high-performance motorcycle and crashed at a speed of 200 mph.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
