Death of girl, 7, in Florida raceway crash fuels grief amid sport's popularity

[Zorro]

“Motorsports is built on passion, but moments like these remind us of the risks that come with what we love,” the dragway said in a statement.

The tragic death of 7-year-old Elienisse Zoe Diaz Rodriguez in a drag-racing accident at a popular east Orange County speedway is generating grief, sympathy, and focus on a sport that enthusiasts insist is generally safe — even for children too young to drive a regular automobile.

“Junior drag racing has been very, very, very safe for more than 20 years,” said Bill Hartzel, an Orlando resident who has been racing at the Orlando Speed World Dragway track since he was youngster nearly six decades ago.

“This is entry-level racing and they have all the safety equipment that the big boys have: the helmet, the gloves, the seat belts, the fire suits, the HANS device,” he said, referring to the head-and-neck support device that attaches to the driver’s helmet. The regulations are created and enforced by racing associations, not government entities.

Ernie Padget Sr. agreed with Hartzel’s sentiment, remaining supportive of racing even though his son, Chad, was killed while drag racing at the same race track nearly a decade ago.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2025/02/07/orlando-speed-world-accident-2025-elienisse-diaz/

Who thinks it's a great idea to allow kids as young as 5 to compete in sanctioned drag races? The NHRA, that's who.

[Diamond_Dog]

1. Who would support this after losing a son to the same "sport"?

I just don’t understand people any more.

[MichMan]

7. Not an unusual response from the racing community

His son was in his 40s. I've been involved on the sport for most of my life in various capacities and the vast majority of my friends are racers

[Diamond_Dog]

10. I'm sorry, my bad, I thought he lost his son at a young age as a junior racer.

Losing a child would definitely turn me against the activity.

[sop]

2. "The vehicles for the young drivers...can reach speeds of up to 80 mph."

“This is entry-level racing and they have all the safety equipment that the big boys have: the helmet, the gloves, the seat belts, the fire suits, the HANS device."

Any parent who allows their 7-year-old to drag race is insane.

[MichMan]

4. Not accurate according to the link

"At her level, cars are limited to a roughly 40-mph maximum"

[sop]

9. "Because Elienisse was 7 years old, she was allowed to compete with racers up to 9 years old.

Under that designation, competitors are restricted to completing the distance at no faster than 11.9 seconds....The vehicles for the young drivers use five-horsepower, single-cylinder engines that can reach speeds of up to 80 mph. The cars also have to provide drivers with protections from rollovers."

[MichMan]

12. Could go 80 mph, but restricted to run slower in her age group

My passenger car could go 150 mph, but I've never had it over 85.

Not only that, I've gone 80 mph on the interstate with a child in the car who wasn't wearing a helmet, five point restraints, a fire suit and a HANS device. Crazy isn't it!

[sop]

13. Yes, and I never stated the girl was doing 80 mph.

I stated that it's insane for parents to allow their 7-year-old kids to go drag racing.

[MichMan]

3. I do

Unfortunate tragedy and the cause needs to be found, but there are hundreds of thousands of kids racing every week. They are bonding with their parents and fellow racers while learning about car preparation, gaining hands on mechanical skills, learning sportsmanship and many other life lessons.

[oberle]

5. Life lessons?

There are plenty of "life lessons" that can be learned by much safer means than driving a car up to 40 mph. Any other sport, for instance. Plus there are many life lessons that can be learned by not being involved in any sport. Playing a musical instrument, for example. Nobody ever died playing the piano.

[MichMan]

11. You're right

Even though hundreds of thousands of kids race every weekend with no injuries, it could happen.

No sense doing anything that has any risks of injury or death. Riding in cars, riding bicycles, skiing, skateboards, or playing youth sports like football, hockey or gymnastics are all way too risky.

Much safer to make kids stay inside all the time with their phones playing virtual sports and video games.

[Wonder Why]

14. That may be true but a lot of people have died of

boredom listening to it or have gone crazy listening to their kids practicing.

[doc03]

6. It's a red neck thing let them have their fun. As long as it is not a "Drag" race.... nt

[twodogsbarking]

8. You killed her so STFU.