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The racing world lost another sprint car legend today RIP

ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. — Sprint car racing legend Kramer Williamson has died as a result of serious injuries sustained in a sprint car racing accident Saturday night at the Lincoln Speedway.
During the running of the first URC 360 sprint car heat race, Williamson took a series of flips in turn two. Williamson was air lifted to the trauma center of the York Hospital where he underwent surgery. Williamson was listed in critical condition through the night and died at approximately 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening.
Williamson was a well decorated sprint car driver who pretty much did it all. Even more of a credit to Kramer, he did it his way. Williamson was a popular driver among the fans and his competitors as well, and will be remembered driving his “Pink Panther” No. 73 sprint car. On the sprint car circuit, he was just known as Kramer.
His long list of accomplishments include numerous 410 sprint car wins, many Central Pennsylvania sprint car championships including the historic Williams Grove Speedway. Williamson was a winner of the prestigious Williams Grove National Open and a World of Outlaws feature winner. In 2008, Williamson, who started his racing career in 1968, was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and the United Racing Co. Hall of Fame.
In recent years Williamson competed with the United Racing Co. 360 sprint series, where he owns 67 career wins and three URC championships. His last URC win came at Delaware Int’l Speedway in Delmar, Del., on April 30, 2011.
He is survived by his wife Sharon, son Kurt, daughter Felecia, and brother George.
“URC lost the most popular driver and accomplished driver in our storied history, “ said John Zimmerman, who co-owns the United Racing Co. with his wife Cher and special events promoter Bob Miller. “We are so saddened by the loss of an unforgettable member of our URC Family.”
“Kramer was the sweetest and funniest driver I have ever known in racing,” said Cher Zimmerman. “He made racing a family affair and simply adored his wife and children. I know the national racing community will join us in remembering Kramer and sending prayers to his family at this very difficult moment.”
“Kramer had such a love for this sport that included his competitors and race fans. He was an intense driver that always found a win to bring some humor into any situation, it was just who Kramer was,” said racing promoter Bob Miller. “Kramer will be sadly missed and our sympathy goes out to his family, our thoughts are prayers are with you.”

Please don't use Yahoo! Sports stories. Those idiots there don't know the difference between the engine and the steering wheel.



But its still sad that he passed. I heard about him being airlifted out thru Twitter last night. Its been a bad year for racing but these risks are always there. Its just unfortunate that this year theres been so many.

Yea its real sad since he's been in the sport so long...


It was a USA Today article written by the Associated Press.

And yea this is how the general media (mainly NASCAR) perceives sprint car racing >>>> "Sprint car races can be more dangerous for drivers and spectators because the safety measures taken by series aren't at the same level. Many facilities lack the SAFER barriers that are standard in NASCAR and IndyCar, and the cars aren't always adequately protected."

Ya, that really SUCKS!!! He was a Local Indiana racer. He visited Kokomo in the 70s 80s 90s every Sunday night in his famed Pink car. We used to laugh at the car, because he was always behind in the chassis development and the car was pink, but when he made that car stand up and walk and talk, we shut our mouths real quick!!! He was a very helpful guy in the pits also, anything he could do to help new or old drivers, he would do his best!! LPS is a VERY ROUGH track and has only one wall in the front stretch, it has been replicated in DTR2 as "Spindale", so if you've raced there you know how difficult it can be. It has always been real rough and bumpy, and lots of people have had some serious wrecks there, but that is the nature of Sprint Car Racing. It's like playing Russian Roulette with an AK 47. Those guys are the most dedicated drivers, and they do it for the Fans, not the money!!!

ive never heard of him..but sad to hear a dirt tracker loose his life,,

The accident happened at the Lincoln Speedway in Pennsylvania not Indiana. I have never been to Lincoln, but do know its a very fast track that has the reputation of big crashes.

If you were to look at the track records for all the central PA dirt tracks and many more, you will find that the name of Kramer Williamson will stick out somewhere. I knew of him early on from his success at Silver Spring Speedway, where he won the 1969 Super Sportsman track title while still in high school or just out of. Super Sportsman are similar looking to sprint cars , but heavier with box tubing , and they have starters on them. His famed Kramer Kraft chassis' he produced for the Sportsman were the class of the field for about 20 years. Up until a few years ago, there were still some in active competition. Once he moved on to Sprint Cars the rest is history. Racking up track titles at Selinsgrove and Williams Grove. He is the all time win leader in the URC Traveling series. URC is pretty much like any other 360 Sprint Car. His wins had tailed off the last few years, but even at 63 , he was a threat everywhere he went. Setting second fastest time earlier this year at the Jack Gunn Challenge race at Selinsgrove. Lincoln is not a huge track, 3/8 mile. But when track conditions are favorable, it is super fast. Especially the wide corners in 1 and 2 where Kramer had his fatal wreck. If he would have stuck with the big dollar owners his whole career, he would have won even more than he did. But I have more respect for him that he did most everything on his own and built his own cars most of his career.

Selinsgrove and I think most of the local tracks are planning a Pink Out this weekend. So if you're in the central PA area, show your support for the Pink Panther and wear some pink. His home series, the URC, will be at Selinsgrove this Saturday. It certainly will not be the same without Kramer Williamson there.

DAMN! Three driver deaths, two fan deaths, and one broken leg, all due to sprint car racing this year. Really sad. Not to be rude or anything, but this is why I will never drive a sprint car in real life. Not even for a test drive. I'll drive late models, modifieds, super stocks, street stocks, hornets, etc, but absolutely no sprint-type cars (this means midgets and mini sprints also) for this very reason. You don't see many driver deaths in dirt late model crashes. You really have to do some digging and research to find out about those. But sprint car deaths pop up all of the sudden, and they're much more often, and I think this will be the year people will realize this and take huge steps in safety equipment for sprint-type cars.