Driver in Yorkshire drag race tragedy named

Kasey Dixon-Grainger, 23, had finished the race at York Raceway, on Melbourne Airfield, East Yorkshire, when his purple Ford Cortina drag car rolled and burst into flames at 11.15am on Sunday.

Mr Grainger, from the Billingham area of Cleveland, died at the scene, Humberside Police said.

A floral tribute was left on the chequered flag close to the finish line where the crash happened.

Mr Grainger’s family was at the public event.

A Humberside Police spokesman said two cars took part in the race but only one vehicle crashed.

“It would appear that two cars crossed the line at the end of a drag race,” the spokeswoman said.

“One of those cars stopped, however the other continued on across the finishing line. It then appears to have rolled and a small fire started. Sadly the driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, died.”

A joint investigation into the incident will be carried out by police collision investigators, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Health and Safety Executive.

Mr Dixon-Grainger lost control of the modified 1966 Mark 1 Cortina as it crossed the finish line at 130mph.

More than 1,000 spectators including the 23-year-old’s friends and family watched as the car veered sideways then rolled over several times and burst into flames.

The professional racer had just posted a personal best time on the first day of the two-day meeting.

Organisers immediately abandoned the rest of the day’s programme as a mark of respect. Racing today has resumed as normal.

York Raceway’s manager Steve Murty said Mr Dixon-Grainger’s father Paul, his brother, who worked on the car with him, and other members of the family were at the event.

He said: “The family are absolutely devastated. They worked together on the car.

“He was a great character, very well known and a well-respected racer for many years in racing here on this track and on other tracks throughout the country.

“Obviously everything is very, very sombre.”

Fellow drivers have posted messages of condolence on hot rodding websites since the accident.

Vince305 said: “My thoughts go out to all those concerned ... I was only talking to him at the beginning of the month ... Gutting to know this has happened to one of the nice guys of the sport.”

Around 200 racers drove slowly on the racetrack as a mark of respect.