Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Does anyone have news about the poor guy that fell off the back of the ATV last night right at the end of the race?   There were two guys racing to get a tire to a car and the guy on the back holding the tire fell off.   They ended the race right after that because it went past curfew.   I heard the helicopter sat for 20 minutes but no other word about his condition. 

got hit by another vehicle...

Ascot was the greatest of all time..

West Capital wasn't half bad either..

Life is good...

He passed away.  RIP. 

Trophy Cup......Best race of the year hands down!

rip brother, you were doing what you loved to do.  GOD"S Speed...

Ascot was the greatest of all time..

West Capital wasn't half bad either..

Life is good...

Any name or more info on this person. Age? Married? Name? Did they have kids?

This person was trying to help a driver now they or their family may need help, just like a driver.

Good question.   I have see nothing about this anywhere except for the recent article in the Napa Register about the weekend but only talks about an injury.   Would really like to know what has happened.   Prayers to his family and crew. 

Jeff Stitch, a long time crew member for Damion Gardner. He fell from a quad.

This is horrible news. I left quickly Saturday night but was curious about his condition. I'm shocked, I had no idea of the severity. This is so sad. I think it's time to mandate helmets for all pit cart/mules and ATV's that are in the hot pits. Injuries and deaths in the pits happen too often. It's time for a change. 

Pit crew member on life support after injury at Calistoga Speedway

First lets mandate how you ride on the mule/atv. Every week I see adults and even kids riding barely hanging onto something. I have seen some tracks enforce how many people can ride on the mule/atv or where they can sit on it. Most times it's ignored until something bad happens like this.

Agreed 100%.

Ok which way did he fall off front or back?  Top post says back article says front.

And his name is Jeff Spich.

Fair quetstion and one I have as well. For what it's worth, the lady sitting in the grandstands behind me said she witnessed the fall and she made it sound like he fell of the back. But please don't take this to be fact.

AAFD All American Fueled Dragsters

Jeff Stich (1961-2015)

Veteran Champion Speed Shop pit-crew leader Jeff Stich was killed in a freak sprint-car pit accident September 5th at Calistoga Speedway in California. Jeff sustained fatal head and spinal injuries after being thrown off the back of a quad pit vehicle while holding a rear tire for a car in the race. Jeff was a lifelong friend of Champion’s McLennan family. “The news is tragic for the crew and friends of the Champion Speed Shop team,” car owner Bob McLennan said. God bless Jeff Stich.

Thanks for posting. So sad.

This is just so sad. When I arrived at Suzie's Friday night and grabbed a seat at the bar Damion Gardner was to my immediate left. It was clear from watching him and his friends that they were having a great time and it is not inconceivable that Jeff was one of them but I would never be able to say for sure. Just a very tight group of friends enjoying eachother's company that anyone observing could have easily seen. Saturday night looked so promising with the Demon ripping off two great laps to set quick time at the time when he went out to qualify only to be beaten by Rico when it was all said and done. Damion was really starting to be a factor in the closing laps of the feature when the tire let go and we all know what happened after that. Everything happened so fast and while I saw the incident my mind would not allow me to believe that it could be as bad as it turned out to be. My thoughts have been with this group since Sunday afternoon when I learned just how bad the situation was and haven't been able to form the words until now. May you all be given the strength to get you through the tough days ahead. 

Such a tragic situation.. I read where they had been together since Damien started racing. Very sad deal. 

The sad part is he is another person that the driver and team know about that help out big time but no one else knows about till they are gone.

Alot of times unless he was a driver at one time you never know how much a person does for a team. And his life is not celebrated very much which is very sad. 

Now there needs tobe a Jeff Stich aword for a pitcrew member with USCA/CRA or at Calistoga Speedway during the Vermeal Classic each year.

agree 100%

Very good point.   I was amazed that it took so long to even find out about what happened to Jeff.   The napa register was incorrect in saying that he fell off the front.   Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.