Blaise Alexander

Blaise Alexander
Blaise Alexander
Born	Blaise Robert Alexander Jr.; March 26, 1976; Dover)
Parts America 150 (Watkins Glen)

Blaise Robert Alexander Jr. (March 26, 1976 – October 4, 2001) was an American professional stock car racer from

Craftsman Truck Series

.

On October 4, 2001, during the ARCA EasyCare 100 at

Lowe's Motor Speedway, Alexander's car crashed into the outside retaining wall nearly head-on. He died from a basilar skull fracture, the fifth driver death from rapid-deceleration head-and-neck movements in 17 months, convincing NASCAR to mandate the HANS or Hutchens

devices for all drivers, despite the accident happening in ARCA.

Early life

Alexander was born on March 26, 1976, in Montoursville, Pennsylvania. He began his stock car career at age 12 in the World Karting Association and was the champion of the East Series in 1992. From that point, Alexander moved onto the Micro-Sprint racing series at tracks in different states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York, posting a total of 48 wins in the series. In 1995, Alexander moved from Montoursville to Mooresville, North Carolina, to pursue a racing career.

Racing career

ARCA

Alexander drove a few races in the ARCA Re-Max Series in 1995. With a full season in 1996, Alexander won ARCA's

Lowe's Motor Speedway. Alexander achieved two more second-place finishes in 1997. Alexander won his first ARCA race in 1998 at Toledo Speedway and won a second race the same year at Pocono Raceway. He led in 18 ARCA races for a total of 490 laps led. Alexander's final win came in July 2001, at Michigan International Speedway

. Alexander earned a total of four career pole awards, in races at Michigan, Watkins Glen, Toledo and Winchester.

NASCAR

In 1997, still running fifteen races in ARCA, Alexander began driving in

Team SABCO

during the 2000 Busch season, posting two top-ten finishes and finishing 25th in points. After that year, he decided to return to the ARCA series in 2001.

Death

At the EasyCare 100 at

Lowe's Motor Speedway on October 4, 2001, Alexander was involved in a 2-car accident during lap 63 of the race. He was fighting for the lead position with Kerry Earnhardt for most of the race.^[1] During the lap, Earnhardt had to dodge a lapped car by hitting his brakes, which caused Alexander's No. 75 to catch up to Earnhardt's No. 2. Alexander began to inch into the lead when Earnhardt's car made contact with Alexander's, sending Alexander's car head-on into the wall and then back into Earnhardt's car, causing Earnhardt to flip over onto his roof and slide into the grass. After the wreck, Earnhardt got away unharmed, while Alexander was knocked unconscious.^[1] The ARCA race officials quickly threw out the red flag to send rescue workers onto the track to check on Alexander. Earnhardt had already gotten out of his car and wanted to go check on Alexander, a friend of his. Officials would not allow Earnhardt to see him and was taken to the infield care center. Alexander was pronounced dead at the infield care center at 10:20 PM. He was 25 years old.^[1]^[2] Alexander was interred at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in his hometown of Montoursville, Pennsylvania.^[3]

Aftermath

Alexander's death, caused by a

Jimmy Spencer

had not worn them yet.

In response to these deaths, NASCAR eventually installed SAFER barriers on all NASCAR oval tracks. As of 2015, most tracks have the exterior walls covered with the barriers.

Legacy

After his 1995 move to North Carolina, Alexander enjoyed a close friendship with fellow Busch rookie driver and eventual NASCAR superstar, Jimmie Johnson, as they competed against each other on the track, while supporting each other off it.^[4] Other close relations included Spencer, who served as his mentor, and IndyCar driver P. J. Jones.^[5]

Alexander's memory has been honored by Johnson in several public and private ways. He dedicated his first Cup win to Alexander during a televised interview in Victory Lane, sent condolences in a Victory Lane interview after the death of Alexander's mother, and supported various charity causes and events that Alexander initiated in his hometown area of Central Pennsylvania. Shortly after Alexander's death, one of Johnson's crewmen drew a flame pattern with Alexander's initials on his driver's front left bumper; the tribute was continued in the form of a decal on Johnson's Cup cars. There are quite a few Blaise Alexander automotive dealerships in Central Pennsylvania originally created from his family.^[6]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

Winston Cup Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	NWCC	Pts	Ref
2000	LJ Racing	91	Chevy	DAY	CAR	LVS	ATL	DAR	BRI	TEX	MAR	TAL	CAL	RCH	CLT	DOV	MCH	POC	SON	DAY	NHA	POC	IND	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	NHA	DOV	MAR	CLT	TAL DNQ	CAR	PHO	HOM	ATL DNQ	NA	-	^[7]

Busch Series

Busch Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	NBSC	Pts	Ref
1997	Keystone Motorsports	20	Chevy	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	LVS	DAR	HCY	TEX	BRI	NSV	TAL	NHA	NZH	CLT	DOV	SBO	GLN	MLW	MYB	GTY	IRP	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	CLT	CAL 20	CAR 24					77th	194	^[8]
1997	Key Motorsports	11	Chevy																														HOM DNQ				77th	194	^[8]
1998	Keystone Motorsports	20	Chevy	DAY DNQ	CAR 23	LVS 25	NSV 21	DAR 12	BRI 35	TEX 33	HCY DNQ	TAL 14	NHA 26	NZH 38	CLT DNQ	DOV 38	RCH DNQ	PPR 27	GLN 43	MLW 27	MYB DNQ	CAL 35	SBO	IRP	MCH 20	BRI 41	DAR 37	RCH 42	DOV 26	CLT 40	GTY 33	CAR 31	ATL 39	HOM 23			32nd	1730	^[9]
1999	Blaise Alexander Racing	20	Chevy	DAY DNQ	CAR	LVS	ATL	DAR	TEX	NSV	BRI	TAL	CAL	NHA	RCH	NZH	CLT 24	DOV	SBO	GLN	MLW	MYB	PPR	GTY	IRP	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV							91st	158	^[10]
1999	Sterling Marlin Racing	14	Chevy																												CLT 32	CAR	MEM	PHO	HOM		91st	158	^[10]
2000	SABCO Racing	81	Chevy	DAY DNQ	CAR 30	LVS 21	ATL 7	DAR 28	BRI 23	TEX 18	NSV 28	TAL 30	CAL 38	RCH 31	NHA 40	CLT 10	DOV 31	SBO 27	MYB 34	GLN 13	MLW 18	NZH 26	PPR 22	GTY 35	IRP 16	MCH 39	BRI 41	DAR 35	RCH 18	DOV 21	CLT 30	CAR 34	MEM 31	PHO 38	HOM 28		25th	2540	^[11]
2001	HighLine Performance Group	8	Chevy	DAY 30	CAR 16	LVS 43	ATL 12	DAR	BRI	TEX	NSH	TAL	CAL	RCH	NHA	NZH	CLT	DOV	KEN	MLW	GLN	CHI	GTY	PPR	IRP												54th	558	^[12]
2001	Carroll Racing	08	Chevy																							MCH 11	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV 28	KAN	CLT	MEM	PHO	CAR	HOM	54th	558	^[12]

Craftsman Truck Series

Craftsman Truck Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	NCTC	Pts	Ref
1997	Blaise Alexander Racing	62	Chevy	WDW	TUS	HOM DNQ	PHO	POR	EVG	I70	NHA	TEX	BRI 14	NZH	MLW	LVL	CNS	HPT	IRP	FLM	NSV DNQ	GLN 9	RCH	MAR DNQ	SON	MMR	CAL	PHO	LVS	53rd	373	^[13]

ARCA Re/Max Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Re/Max Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	ARMC	Pts	Ref
1995	Blaise Alexander Racing	26	Chevy	DAY 12	ATL	TAL 13	FIF	KIL	FRS	MCH	I80	MCS	FRS	POC 5	POC 33	KIL	FRS	SBS	LVL	ISF	DSF	SLM	WIN	ATL 8					33rd	1045	^[14]
1996				DAY 27	ATL 7	SLM 9	TAL 15	FIF 7	LVL 15	CLT 2	CLT 25	KIL 3	FRS 5	POC 23	MCH 6	FRS 20	TOL 11	POC 4	MCH 20	INF 17	SBS 3	ISF 28	DSF 27	KIL 18	SLM 3	WIN 8	CLT 35	ATL 33	5th	5325	^[15]
1997				DAY 37	ATL 17	SLM 22	CLT 39	CLT 24	POC 30	MCH 6	SBS	TOL 2	KIL 2	FRS	MIN 2	POC 3	MCH 7	DSF	GTW 6	SLM 6	WIN	CLT 34	TAL	ISF	ATL				9th	2655	^[16]
1998	Keystone Motorsports	20	Chevy	DAY 35	ATL	SLM	CLT	MEM	MCH																				NA	0	^[17]
1998	Mike Brandt	66	Ford							POC 9	SBS	TOL	PPR	POC	KIL	FRS	ISF	ATL	DSF	SLM	TEX	WIN	CLT	TAL	ATL				NA	0	^[17]
1999	Baltes Racing	18	Chevy	DAY	ATL 3	SLM																							16th	2330	^[18]
1999	Blaise Alexander Racing	97	Chevy				AND 3	CLT 14	MCH 2	POC 11	TOL 1	SBS 25	BLN	POC 1*	KIL	FRS	FLM 9	ISF	WIN 2	DSF	SLM	CLT 4	TAL	ATL 26					16th	2330	^[18]
2001	LJ Racing	91	Chevy	DAY 8	NSH																								23rd	1820	^[19]
	Gerhart Racing	7	Pontiac			WIN 28
	LJ Racing	91	Pontiac				SLM 6	GTY	KEN	CLT	KAN	MCH 6	POC 9	MEM	GLN 2	KEN		POC 2	NSH	ISF	CHI	DSF	SLM	TOL	BLN
	Bob Schacht Motorsports	75	Pontiac														MCH 1									CLT 2	TAL	ATL

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Smith, Marty (2001-10-11). "2001: A year to forget for Kerry Earnhardt". NASCAR. Archived from the original on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
^ "BLAISE ALEXANDER (1976–2001) – ARCA Racing.com". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ "BLAISE ALEXANDER – ARCA Racing.com". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ Smith, Marty (2002-10-11). "A year later, Johnson still affected by Alexander". NASCAR. Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
^ "PJ Jones Interview". YouTube. December 5, 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
^ Long, Dustin (November 22, 2019). "Friday 5: Jimmie Johnson's final Cup season also marks final tribute to friend". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 1997 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 1998 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 1999 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 2000 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 2001 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 1995 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 1996 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 1997 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 1998 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 1999 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^ "Blaise Alexander – 2001 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

External links

Blaise Alexander driver statistics at Racing-Reference
Video of crash on
YouTube

[EasyCare100-1] Smith, Marty (2001-10-11). "2001: A year to forget for Kerry Earnhardt". NASCAR. Archived from the original on 2012-02-14. Retrieved 2011-12-05.

[Age-2] "BLAISE ALEXANDER (1976–2001) – ARCA Racing.com". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[rest-3] "BLAISE ALEXANDER – ARCA Racing.com". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-10-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

[4] Smith, Marty (2002-10-11). "A year later, Johnson still affected by Alexander". NASCAR. Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-12-05.

[5] "PJ Jones Interview". YouTube. December 5, 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved February 7, 2020.

[6] Long, Dustin (November 22, 2019). "Friday 5: Jimmie Johnson's final Cup season also marks final tribute to friend". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 7, 2020.

[7] "Blaise Alexander – 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[8] "Blaise Alexander – 1997 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[9] "Blaise Alexander – 1998 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[10] "Blaise Alexander – 1999 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[11] "Blaise Alexander – 2000 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[12] "Blaise Alexander – 2001 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[13] "Blaise Alexander – 1997 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[14] "Blaise Alexander – 1995 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[15] "Blaise Alexander – 1996 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[16] "Blaise Alexander – 1997 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[17] "Blaise Alexander – 1998 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[18] "Blaise Alexander – 1999 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[19] "Blaise Alexander – 2001 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 23, 2018.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

Early life

Racing career

ARCA

NASCAR

Death

Aftermath

Legacy

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

Winston Cup Series

Busch Series

Craftsman Truck Series

ARCA Re/Max Series

See also

References

External links