Successful drag racer may
always be linked to tragedy
Published June 19, 2007
By Brant Sappington
Staff Writer

SELMER, Tenn. -- Though Troy Critchley is one of the most successful racers in his sport, his name will now forever be linked with tragedy.

Critchley was at the wheel of his pro-modified drag racing car when he lost control while doing a burnout at the annual Cars for Kids charity event and slammed into the crowd, killing at least six people and injuring more than 20.

The veteran driver has not been arrested or charged in connection with the crash and officials say they will wait until the entire investigation is complete before determining if the crash was simply a tragic accident or if charges will be filed.

“No determination has been made yet. It would be irresponsible for me to make a determination under the law until I have all the facts,” District Attorney General Michael Dunavant said Monday.

Critchley drives pro-modified dragsters for the AMS Racing Team. Pro-modified cars run methanol-burning engines mounted on late-model, full-body style chassis with bodies that are designed to resemble street cars.

The driver is a native of Australia and began his career driving for several pro-mod racing teams around Australia in the early 1990s. In 1998, he moved to the United States and continued his successful career. In 2002, he joined the Texas-based AMS team. Last year he set a new miles per hour speed record in his class at the U.S. Nationals event in Indianapolis.

A statement released by his team on Monday described Critchley as “an experienced professional driver who had performed more than 1,000 exhibition burnouts without incident prior to Saturday.”

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