Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Jimm Groshong crashed in turn 9 on the out-lap of an AFM practice session at Infineon Raceway Saturday, sliding into a bare wall and sustaining fatal injuries. In a cruel twist of fate, Groshong, who was second in AFM Formula 40 points, was a close friend and racing buddy of Rich Thorwaldson, who sustained injuries that ultimately proved to be fatal in a crash at Infineon Raceway earlier this year. Thorwaldson hit a dirt embankment after running off the track to avoid a crashed competitor.

AFM uses the original 8a-9-10 turn layout of the Sonoma, California racetrack and does not use the chicane installed in that area to reduce speeds and improve run-off for AMA Pro Racing events. After the fatal incident, practice resumed on the same AFM course, bypassing the AMA chicane. Races scheduled for Sunday will also be run on the AFM course, although AFM officials are talking about switching to the AMA configuration for an AFM race in October.

According to a rider in the same Practice Group 5 session, Groshong was attempting to go around the outside of another rider and got out into the marbles on the outside of the corner. No Airfence sections, sections of other types of soft barriers or even haybales were in place where Groshong impacted the wall, according to the rider we spoke to.

At post time, calls to Infineon Raceway spokesman John Cardinale and to AFM President Joe Montoya seeking additional information and comment had not yet been returned.

Roadracingworld.com estimates that about 15,000 riders hold road racing licenses in the United States, and about another 30,000-50,000 people participate in track rides, with hundreds of races and track rides held each season. In a bad year, 3 or 4 riders die from injuries sustained in racetrack crashes.

This is already a bad year.

Roadracingworld.com offers its condolences to Jimm Groshong’s family and friends, and wishes him Godspeed.