Race Fans Mourning As We Have Lost A Legend In Ted Christopher

Column By: MATTHEW WIERNASZ / RPW – NEW BRANFORD, CT – Race fans are saddened as one of the greatest drivers of the era Ted Christopher was killed in plane crash on Saturday afternoon between the Guilford/North Branford line in Connecticut where he was on the way to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Riverhead Raceway down in Long Island. The pilot was also killed in the crash. Christopher was 59-years old.

Christopher was always colorful and always gave the fans something to talk about when he would make a pass on the race track. He had countless feature wins and raced in almost anything from open wheel to full fendered cars.

Christopher was all the time winningest driver where had 131 features wins overall from the SK Modifieds, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, as well as Super Late Models and won nine track championships in the SK Modifieds at Stafford Motor Speedway. Christopher won his 99th win all time at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in the Sunoco Modifieds last weekend.

He returned to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour this year back in June racing for Danny Watts out of Long Island. Christopher won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship back in 2008 driving for Ed Whelan. He was third on the all-time win lists on the tour with 42 wins. He won 10 races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and won the 2001 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Championship. He won Indoor TQ Midgets races in Providence, RI, and in Atlantic City, NJ and Trenton, NJ

Race fans had that love/hate relationship for Christopher but when he won the fans were talking when he would make his way to the front giving the fans excitement. Christopher would always give feedback on what the car was doing. He was very passionate and just loved to race.

We will never forget what Ted Christopher did for auto racing and he will be missed.