King in Critical Condition after Knoxville Crash

Sprint-car driver remains in critical condition after Knoxville accident
ROB GRAY
DES MOINES REGISTER STAFF WRITER
August 10, 2006


Sprint-car driver Steve King, who was injured in a crash during Wednesday's Knoxville Nationals, is in critical condition with a life-threatening head injury at a Des Moines hospital, officials at the hospital and track said this afternoon.

Knoxville officials earlier today erroneously said that King, of Jetmore, Kan., had died.

Ralph Capitani, race director at Knoxville Raceway, said he was given inaccurate information from a member of a pit crew when contacted by The Register.

Capitani said at 3:30 p.m. today that he did not know more specifics. A spokesperson at Mercy confirmed again that King is listed in critical condition.

Preliminary reports from Knoxville Raceway indicate the wreck involved only King and happened when a part broke, sending his No. 88 car into the Turn 3 fence during a preliminary feature.

King was taken by helicopter to Mercy late Wednesday night to undergo treatment for a brain injury, according to his Web site.

Capitani said earlier today that races would go on as scheduled.

“Our hearts, our souls, our prayers are certainly with the family,” Capitani said. “He’s a fine young man."

There have been 14 racing-related deaths at Knoxville, according to Capitani and Des Moines Register research. The most recent death was June 16, when Courtney Roger Schuur of Fridley, Minn., was killed during a sprint-car exhibition race held as part of a once-a-year “old-timers” event.

An update this morning on King’s Web site — www.88king.com — asked people to “pray specifically that God will reduce the swelling on his brain, stop any internal bleeding and start the healing process.”

King is a fourth-generation farmer who received a degree in animal sciences from Kansas State. He was the 2002 and 2003 NCRA 360 Division champion.

The 46th Knoxville Nationals are scheduled to conclude Saturday night.