Legendary NASCAR Driver Ted Christopher Dies in Plane Crash

NASCAR driver Ted Christopher from Connecticut died in a plane crash on September 16th

Tweets and messages from Jimmie Johnson to Kyle Petty have been sent to offer condolences to Christopher and his family.

“We are all saddened to learn of the tragic plane crash this afternoon that claimed the lives of NASCAR driver Ted Christopher and the aircraft’s pilot,” NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said in a prepared statement on Saturday.

“As a championship driver on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and New England short tracks, Christopher was a throwback to NASCAR’s roots. He was a tough racer’s racer, and his hard driving style and candid personality endeared him to short track fans throughout the country. He will be missed throughout the racing community, in the garage, and, especially, in the hearts of his many fans. NASCAR has his family and friends in its thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

Christopher is one of two NASCAR drivers to win a Whelen All-American series National Title and a Touring Series Championship. He won the NASCAR Whelen All-American short-track championship in 2001 and won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship in 2008. No driver has won more races than Christopher at two storied tracks in New England, Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, regular stops on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.

Christopher was one of two people on board a plane that crashed in Guilford, Connecticut, on Saturday afternoon. Both died in the crash. The other person on board, the pilot, was not identified.

“So very sad to hear of Ted Christopher's passing...Greatness passes into Legend #RIP,” Petty posted on Twitter on Sunday.

“Ted Christopher was such a great guy and wheel man. Thinking of his family and friends. #TC13,” Johnson posted on Twitter on Sunday.

Ted Christopher won 12 NASCAR K&N Pro Series races in his long and storied career

He won 10 World Series of Asphalt Racing races at New Smyrna Speedway, in Florida, another regular stop on the K&N Pro Series East. He won tour-type Modified titles from 1998-2001, 2003, 2005, and 2009-2011. He also won the SK Modified Division title in 1991 and five Richie Evans Memorial races at New Smyrna Speedway, a track record.

He was scheduled to drive the No. 82 Horton Avenue Materials Chevrolet at New York’s Riverhead Raceway on Saturday. The No. 82 race team drove a ceremonial pace lap before a moment of silence before the races.

Christopher made six starts in the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series, 21 starts in the Xfinity Series, and two in the Camping World Truck Series. He won 12 races in 94 career K&N Pro Series starts and 42 races in 49 years of racing in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. He won six races in 19 starts in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and made two starts in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona sports car race.