Jim Richard Haynes's upright sprint car hit the turn four wall hard at lap 23 of the race, causing Haynes' head to also strike the wall, knocking him unconscious. The car continued down the track at speed and drove head-on into the wall at the next turn. It was reported the accident happened because the throttle stuck and the car went out of control.
Haynes succumbed to his injuries three days later, at 10h45 on Wednesday, 27 February 1985 at Barrows Neurological Institute of St. Joseph's Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Jim Haynes began his racing career riding motorcycles, then switched to sprint cars in 1978. He was based in Florida, where he was most active with TBARA (Tampa Bay Area Racing Association). He had been named Most Improved Driver in 1979, and in 1984 he finished second in points. He had been planning a campaign in USAC Dirt Car series in 1985. TBARA has held a Jim Haynes Memorial race yearly since his death.
R.I.P
