Jimmy 'The Smilin Okie' Nix - accomplished Top Fuel dragster. Killed in crash at Texas Motorplex in Ennis in May 1994.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Daily Oklahoman
Published: May 25, 1994
NIX, Jimmy, died May 21, 1994 in Ennis, Texas at the age of 55, following a drag racing accident. A graduate of Northwest Classen High School, Jimmy began drag racing in the mid 1950's. He retired to develop business interests in 1972 and returned to the sport in 1990. He is survived by his wife, Darla; a son, James W., III and his wife, Kelly; two grandchildren, Jamie and Andrew; his parents, Mildred and James W. Nix; one sister, Patsy Ann Smith and her husband, Sanford. Memorials may be made to DRAW (Drag Racing Association of Women, a support group for injured racers), 3221 Rosewood Court, Davie, Fl. 33328; the Baptist Burn Center, 3300 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City 73112; or The First Presbyterian Church, 1001 N.W. 25, OKC 73106. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 26, 1994 with interment at Resthaven Cemetery.
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Drag Racer Nix Killed in Crash
Scott Munn The Oklahoman
Published: May 22, 1994
Veteran Oklahoma City drag racer Jimmy Nix was killed Saturday night at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis when his top fueler crashed after experiencing wing strut failure.
Nix, 55, was pronounced dead at 8:01 p.m. - approximately 21 minutes after his arrival at the Ennis branch of Baylor University Medical Center.
Hospital spokesman Jonathan Jeter could not release the particulars on Nix's injuries other than saying, "they were multiple. " A release from the Texas Motorplex, home of many prestigious National Hot Rod Association events, said the "top end crash" occurred Saturday night in the first round of qualifying. As Nix approached the mile-per-hour traps, the tubular car "experienced catastrophic wing strut failure rendering his car uncontrollable. " Nix was racing Doug Foxworth.
"It appears that Mr. Nix's strut broke, causing his car to veer into the left guardrail at approximately 260 miles per hour," said track spokesman Elon Werner. "When the car hit the guardrail it broke into numerous pieces. "
Nix became an Oklahoma drag racing legend in the early 1960s, winning several nationally sanctioned races at the now-defunct Jaycees Dragstrip on the State Fairgrounds. He became the first driver in NHRA history to set records in four divisions (AA/Fuel Dragster, AA/Gas Dragster, A/Gas Dragster, Super Factory Experimental), before retiring in 1971 to pursue other business interests.
Nix returned to the sport competitively 1990, shortly after attending a race as a spectator. The sights and smells were too much to bear.
"It's kind of funny," Nix said at the time, "I went to watch some races and visit friends, and all of those guys who raced when I did (in the '60s) were still out there doing it.
"There was just something magnetic about it - Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, Connie Kalitta - there's a lot of second-generation drivers out there, but those guys were still racing. " Ironically, Nix's first post-retirement race was at Texas Motorplex. He re-earned his NHRA competitor's license by firing a Medlen chassis down the quarter-mile in 5.23 seconds.
This past February, Nix broke a track record at the $1.29 million NHRA Winternationals in Pamona, Calif. His top-fuel machine clocked in at 4.781 seconds or 276.75 mph - quite a difference from the 171-mph standards Nix was used to at the Jaycees strip.
Nix became a member of the NHRA Division 4 Hall of Fame in 1993.
"Jimmy changed with the times and with all the technical advances," said Todd Stephens, president of Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Noble. "It is a tremendous loss - Jimmy was truly one of the kings of the sport. He is a legend in Oklahoma - he gave this state a lot of recognition. "
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Daily Oklahoman
Published: May 25, 1994
NIX, Jimmy, died May 21, 1994 in Ennis, Texas at the age of 55, following a drag racing accident. A graduate of Northwest Classen High School, Jimmy began drag racing in the mid 1950's. He retired to develop business interests in 1972 and returned to the sport in 1990. He is survived by his wife, Darla; a son, James W., III and his wife, Kelly; two grandchildren, Jamie and Andrew; his parents, Mildred and James W. Nix; one sister, Patsy Ann Smith and her husband, Sanford. Memorials may be made to DRAW (Drag Racing Association of Women, a support group for injured racers), 3221 Rosewood Court, Davie, Fl. 33328; the Baptist Burn Center, 3300 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City 73112; or The First Presbyterian Church, 1001 N.W. 25, OKC 73106. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 26, 1994 with interment at Resthaven Cemetery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drag Racer Nix Killed in Crash
Scott Munn The Oklahoman
Published: May 22, 1994
Veteran Oklahoma City drag racer Jimmy Nix was killed Saturday night at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis when his top fueler crashed after experiencing wing strut failure.
Nix, 55, was pronounced dead at 8:01 p.m. - approximately 21 minutes after his arrival at the Ennis branch of Baylor University Medical Center.
Hospital spokesman Jonathan Jeter could not release the particulars on Nix's injuries other than saying, "they were multiple. " A release from the Texas Motorplex, home of many prestigious National Hot Rod Association events, said the "top end crash" occurred Saturday night in the first round of qualifying. As Nix approached the mile-per-hour traps, the tubular car "experienced catastrophic wing strut failure rendering his car uncontrollable. " Nix was racing Doug Foxworth.
"It appears that Mr. Nix's strut broke, causing his car to veer into the left guardrail at approximately 260 miles per hour," said track spokesman Elon Werner. "When the car hit the guardrail it broke into numerous pieces. "
Nix became an Oklahoma drag racing legend in the early 1960s, winning several nationally sanctioned races at the now-defunct Jaycees Dragstrip on the State Fairgrounds. He became the first driver in NHRA history to set records in four divisions (AA/Fuel Dragster, AA/Gas Dragster, A/Gas Dragster, Super Factory Experimental), before retiring in 1971 to pursue other business interests.
Nix returned to the sport competitively 1990, shortly after attending a race as a spectator. The sights and smells were too much to bear.
"It's kind of funny," Nix said at the time, "I went to watch some races and visit friends, and all of those guys who raced when I did (in the '60s) were still out there doing it.
"There was just something magnetic about it - Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, Connie Kalitta - there's a lot of second-generation drivers out there, but those guys were still racing. " Ironically, Nix's first post-retirement race was at Texas Motorplex. He re-earned his NHRA competitor's license by firing a Medlen chassis down the quarter-mile in 5.23 seconds.
This past February, Nix broke a track record at the $1.29 million NHRA Winternationals in Pamona, Calif. His top-fuel machine clocked in at 4.781 seconds or 276.75 mph - quite a difference from the 171-mph standards Nix was used to at the Jaycees strip.
Nix became a member of the NHRA Division 4 Hall of Fame in 1993.
"Jimmy changed with the times and with all the technical advances," said Todd Stephens, president of Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Noble. "It is a tremendous loss - Jimmy was truly one of the kings of the sport. He is a legend in Oklahoma - he gave this state a lot of recognition. "
Jimmy 'The Smilin Okie' Nix - accomplished Top Fuel dragster. Killed in crash at Texas Motorplex in Ennis in May 1994.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Daily Oklahoman
Published: May 25, 1994
NIX, Jimmy, died May 21, 1994 in Ennis, Texas at the age of 55, following a drag racing accident. A graduate of Northwest Classen High School, Jimmy began drag racing in the mid 1950's. He retired to develop business interests in 1972 and returned to the sport in 1990. He is survived by his wife, Darla; a son, James W., III and his wife, Kelly; two grandchildren, Jamie and Andrew; his parents, Mildred and James W. Nix; one sister, Patsy Ann Smith and her husband, Sanford. Memorials may be made to DRAW (Drag Racing Association of Women, a support group for injured racers), 3221 Rosewood Court, Davie, Fl. 33328; the Baptist Burn Center, 3300 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City 73112; or The First Presbyterian Church, 1001 N.W. 25, OKC 73106. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 26, 1994 with interment at Resthaven Cemetery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drag Racer Nix Killed in Crash
Scott Munn The Oklahoman
Published: May 22, 1994
Veteran Oklahoma City drag racer Jimmy Nix was killed Saturday night at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis when his top fueler crashed after experiencing wing strut failure.
Nix, 55, was pronounced dead at 8:01 p.m. - approximately 21 minutes after his arrival at the Ennis branch of Baylor University Medical Center.
Hospital spokesman Jonathan Jeter could not release the particulars on Nix's injuries other than saying, "they were multiple. " A release from the Texas Motorplex, home of many prestigious National Hot Rod Association events, said the "top end crash" occurred Saturday night in the first round of qualifying. As Nix approached the mile-per-hour traps, the tubular car "experienced catastrophic wing strut failure rendering his car uncontrollable. " Nix was racing Doug Foxworth.
"It appears that Mr. Nix's strut broke, causing his car to veer into the left guardrail at approximately 260 miles per hour," said track spokesman Elon Werner. "When the car hit the guardrail it broke into numerous pieces. "
Nix became an Oklahoma drag racing legend in the early 1960s, winning several nationally sanctioned races at the now-defunct Jaycees Dragstrip on the State Fairgrounds. He became the first driver in NHRA history to set records in four divisions (AA/Fuel Dragster, AA/Gas Dragster, A/Gas Dragster, Super Factory Experimental), before retiring in 1971 to pursue other business interests.
Nix returned to the sport competitively 1990, shortly after attending a race as a spectator. The sights and smells were too much to bear.
"It's kind of funny," Nix said at the time, "I went to watch some races and visit friends, and all of those guys who raced when I did (in the '60s) were still out there doing it.
"There was just something magnetic about it - Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, Connie Kalitta - there's a lot of second-generation drivers out there, but those guys were still racing. " Ironically, Nix's first post-retirement race was at Texas Motorplex. He re-earned his NHRA competitor's license by firing a Medlen chassis down the quarter-mile in 5.23 seconds.
This past February, Nix broke a track record at the $1.29 million NHRA Winternationals in Pamona, Calif. His top-fuel machine clocked in at 4.781 seconds or 276.75 mph - quite a difference from the 171-mph standards Nix was used to at the Jaycees strip.
Nix became a member of the NHRA Division 4 Hall of Fame in 1993.
"Jimmy changed with the times and with all the technical advances," said Todd Stephens, president of Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Noble. "It is a tremendous loss - Jimmy was truly one of the kings of the sport. He is a legend in Oklahoma - he gave this state a lot of recognition. "
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Daily Oklahoman
Published: May 25, 1994
NIX, Jimmy, died May 21, 1994 in Ennis, Texas at the age of 55, following a drag racing accident. A graduate of Northwest Classen High School, Jimmy began drag racing in the mid 1950's. He retired to develop business interests in 1972 and returned to the sport in 1990. He is survived by his wife, Darla; a son, James W., III and his wife, Kelly; two grandchildren, Jamie and Andrew; his parents, Mildred and James W. Nix; one sister, Patsy Ann Smith and her husband, Sanford. Memorials may be made to DRAW (Drag Racing Association of Women, a support group for injured racers), 3221 Rosewood Court, Davie, Fl. 33328; the Baptist Burn Center, 3300 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City 73112; or The First Presbyterian Church, 1001 N.W. 25, OKC 73106. Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 26, 1994 with interment at Resthaven Cemetery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drag Racer Nix Killed in Crash
Scott Munn The Oklahoman
Published: May 22, 1994
Veteran Oklahoma City drag racer Jimmy Nix was killed Saturday night at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis when his top fueler crashed after experiencing wing strut failure.
Nix, 55, was pronounced dead at 8:01 p.m. - approximately 21 minutes after his arrival at the Ennis branch of Baylor University Medical Center.
Hospital spokesman Jonathan Jeter could not release the particulars on Nix's injuries other than saying, "they were multiple. " A release from the Texas Motorplex, home of many prestigious National Hot Rod Association events, said the "top end crash" occurred Saturday night in the first round of qualifying. As Nix approached the mile-per-hour traps, the tubular car "experienced catastrophic wing strut failure rendering his car uncontrollable. " Nix was racing Doug Foxworth.
"It appears that Mr. Nix's strut broke, causing his car to veer into the left guardrail at approximately 260 miles per hour," said track spokesman Elon Werner. "When the car hit the guardrail it broke into numerous pieces. "
Nix became an Oklahoma drag racing legend in the early 1960s, winning several nationally sanctioned races at the now-defunct Jaycees Dragstrip on the State Fairgrounds. He became the first driver in NHRA history to set records in four divisions (AA/Fuel Dragster, AA/Gas Dragster, A/Gas Dragster, Super Factory Experimental), before retiring in 1971 to pursue other business interests.
Nix returned to the sport competitively 1990, shortly after attending a race as a spectator. The sights and smells were too much to bear.
"It's kind of funny," Nix said at the time, "I went to watch some races and visit friends, and all of those guys who raced when I did (in the '60s) were still out there doing it.
"There was just something magnetic about it - Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, Connie Kalitta - there's a lot of second-generation drivers out there, but those guys were still racing. " Ironically, Nix's first post-retirement race was at Texas Motorplex. He re-earned his NHRA competitor's license by firing a Medlen chassis down the quarter-mile in 5.23 seconds.
This past February, Nix broke a track record at the $1.29 million NHRA Winternationals in Pamona, Calif. His top-fuel machine clocked in at 4.781 seconds or 276.75 mph - quite a difference from the 171-mph standards Nix was used to at the Jaycees strip.
Nix became a member of the NHRA Division 4 Hall of Fame in 1993.
"Jimmy changed with the times and with all the technical advances," said Todd Stephens, president of Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Noble. "It is a tremendous loss - Jimmy was truly one of the kings of the sport. He is a legend in Oklahoma - he gave this state a lot of recognition. "
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