NASCAR fans across the country are mourning the death of champion Ted Christopher.
He was 59 years old.
Christopher was one of two people who died in North Branford plane crash on Saturday. The second victim was identified as the pilot, 81-year-old Charles Dundas.
Plainville native Christopher captured 13 track championships and competed at every level of NASCAR during his career. In 2006, he was selected as one of the top 25 drivers in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series history. Fans voted him as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour’s most popular driver three times.
Christopher captured 13 track championships and competed at every level of NASCAR. He made six Cup starts (the last in 2009), 21 Xfinity starts (the last in 2001) and two Camping World Truck Series starts (the last in 1999).
He won nine track championships (1987, ’96, 2000, ’01, 04, ’07, ’09, ’12 and ’14) at Stafford (Connecticut) Motor Speedway, NBC Sports reports.
On the Whelen tour and on New England short tracks, "Christopher was a throwback to NASCAR's roots," NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said in a statement. "He was a tough racer's racer, and his hard driving style and candid personality endeared him to short track fans throughout the country."
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Christopher's death brought tributes from others in the racing world.
"He was a legend," racecar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted Saturday night.
"Absolute definition of a racer," racer Alex Bowman tweeted.
Christopher was to have competed Saturday night at Riverhead Raceway in New York. Traffic officials planned a tribute to him by having his car driven for a ceremonial lap and a moment of silence from fans.
Other drivers and racetracks that knew Christopher took to social media to express their condolences:
