The Sprintcar community across the world is reeling from the sudden loss of American star Jesse Hockett.
Hockett lost his life due to an accident in his race workshop on Wednesday afternoon – only a few days after he captured three feature wins in his home state, including Friday at State Fair Speedway in Sedalia, Saturday at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, and Sunday at the Double X Speedway near the town of California.
The 26 year-old suffered fatal injuries while working on an electrical box in his trailer as he prepared for a four-day Memorial Day weekend of racing that was to include Thursday’s USAC event at Terre Haute, weekly action near home at Sedalia on Friday and then the Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Series Steve King Memorial at the Jetmore Motorplex on Saturday and Sunday.
Since making his Sprintcar debut in 1998 Hockett regularly competed in over 85 events each year. Whether it was the World of Outlaws, ASCS and USAC sanctioned events aboard both winged and non-winged Sprintcars Hockett was always ready for the challenge.
In 2009 Hockett was victorious on 22 occasions, including the Ultimate Non-Wing Challenge at Oskaloosa Speedway and the King of 360 Florida Speedweek in Tampa, Florida.
He was also a two-time winner of the Sprint Bandit Championship and took back-to-back victories in the Ron Shuman Classic.
Along with his antics behind the wheel of a Sprint Car Hockett also got his elbows up in Silver Crown and Midget cars, making a pair of starts in the A-main at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.
The likeable American had been a regular visitor to Australian Speedways over the past few years and claimed the Western Australian Championship during his visit ‘Down Under’ in 2006.
