Running with a new motor developed by Arvil Porter, generating about 6000 pounds thrust, Russell Mendez crashed at the end of an exhibition run after he had released the chute but before it had time to inflate. The Free Spirit dragster veered from the left lane all the way across the right lane into a post supporting the guardrail. The impact was so tremendous that Mendez was actually ejected from the car and killed at the scene.
It happened on Sunday, 16 March 1975 at the quarter-mile dragstrip of Gainesville Raceway, Florida, United States. Mendez was driving his "Free Spirit" rocket dragster in an exhibition run which took place on the final day of eliminations at the NHRA Gatornationals.
Russell Mendez was a resident of Tampa, Florida. He was celebrating his 35th birthday that very day. He was buried at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, Tampa, Florida.
R.I.P
