Eric Martin
ARCA competitor Eric Martin, who is from Hixson, was killed in a violent
crash at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday.
Martin was in a practice session leading up to Thursday night's
EasyCare 150.
Martin, driving the No. 2 Hixson Construction Chevrolet, spun coming off Turn 4 and backed the car
into the wall. While stopped, driver Deborah Renshaw's No. 75 Ford slammed into the driver's side door area.
Emergency workers covered Martin's car with a tarp minutes after the accident.
Renshaw, 25, of Bowling Green, Ky., was being taken to a hospital nearby after being treated at the infield
care center. Her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
Martin was a rookie in the Autombile Racing Club of America series. His best finish in the series was
21st at Kansas Speedway and he was 20th in the season standings.
He is survived by his wife, Tammy, and two children.
Martin had radioed his team, "I'm all right" after he spun and rammed the wall backward coming out of the fourth turn. Then he was broadsided by the Renshaw vehicle after it came around the turn going at least 160 mph.
Martin, 33, was dead before reaching the hospital.
Team owner Wayne Hixson said he started working with Martin about four years ago. Martin had driven in all the ARCA races this year.
His death is the 15th at Lowe's, and the seventh involving a stock car driver. Blaise Alexander was killed at an ARCA race a year ago this week.