St. Louis Grand Am racer killed in Homestead practice

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Grand American series driver Jeff Clinton was killed during practice Friday when his open-wheel, open-cockpit race car veered off course, flipped repeatedly and landed upside down.

The 38-year-old St. Louis driver died at the scene, officials at Homestead-Miami Speedway said.

Clinton, who was practicing for Saturday's Nextel 250 race, lost control of the car and crashed heading into Turn 1. Grand American and Miami-Dade County officials will investigate the accident.

Team officials refused to say whether Clinton was wearing a head-and-neck restraint.

Track officials canceled qualifying Friday and set the starting grid for the race according to series standings.

Clinton was in his second season -- his first full one -- for Archangel Motorsport Services. Team owner Mike Johnson withdrew his second entry from Saturday's race.

"It was the obvious thing to do," Johnson said. "He was a great guy. ... He made it fun for us. He always brought the right attitude, the right style, the right everything. We're really going to miss him."

Circuit still in infancy

The Grand Am circuit is a lower-level series in its third year. It is owned by the France family, who also own International Speedway Corp., parent company of NASCAR.

The accident delayed Indy Racing League qualifying for nearly three hours before Sam Hornish won the pole for the IRL season opener Saturday. The Grand Am cars returned to the track a short time later for a final practice session.

"It's awful when this sort of thing happens," Grand Am driver James Weaver said. "There's an element of risk in this sport and occasionally tragedies happen. He's somebody's son. I've got two daughters. That's my worst nightmare: outliving my children. My heart goes out to his family.

"But the reality is you divorce yourself from it. That sounds callous, but that's the way it is."

Clinton had two sons, 5-year-old Mark and 3-year-old Nathan, and was president and chief operating officer of Grey Eagle Distributors Inc., a distributor of Anheuser-Busch products.

He raced three times last year but planned to run all 10 events this season, Grey Eagle spokesman Jim Hubbard said.