Fatal Accident at Jacksonville Speedway: What Happened on June 28, 2024
Fatal Accident at Jacksonville Speedway. On the night of Friday, June 28, 2024, a fatal accident at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Illinois claimed the life of Ralph A. Willhite, a 65-year-old track crew member and well-known figure in the local racing community. The incident occurred when a 410-winged sprint car lost control and entered the infield at high speed, striking Willhite while he was working on the track floor.
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Morgan County Coroner Marcy Patterson pronounced Willhite dead at the scene. A second track worker, identified as Hank Pollock, was transported to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital with serious leg injuries and remained hospitalized in the immediate days that followed.
Incident Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | June 28, 2024 (Friday night) |
| Location | Jacksonville Speedway, Jacksonville, Illinois |
| Victim | Ralph A. Willhite, 65, of Jacksonville, IL |
| Driver | Jeff Beasley of Mahomet, Illinois |
| Vehicle | 410-winged sprint car |
| Cause | Stuck throttle leading to loss of control |
| Second Person Injured | Hank Pollock (track worker) — serious leg injury |
| Declared Deceased | At the scene by Morgan County Coroner Marcy Patterson |
| Autopsy | Scheduled for Monday, July 1, 2024 |
| Track Response | Racing cancelled that night; closed for the month of July |
| Planned Return | August 9, 2024 |
What Happened That Night
Approximately one hour into the evening’s racing program, Jeff Beasley’s 410-winged sprint car experienced a mechanical failure in which the throttle became stuck. The car accelerated out of control and veered off the racing surface, entering the infield at speed. Willhite, who was in the infield as part of the track crew, was struck directly and suffered fatal injuries.
Hank Pollock, another track worker in the vicinity, was also struck and sustained a serious leg injury. Both men were longtime members of the Jacksonville Speedway crew.
The accident brought the night’s events to an immediate halt. Race officials cancelled all remaining scheduled racing for the evening.
Who Was Ralph A. Willhite
Ralph A. Willhite was a 65-year-old resident of Jacksonville, Illinois, and a dedicated presence at Jacksonville Speedway for many years. He served as part of the infield crew and was described by those who knew him as a reliable, well-liked member of the racing community.
Track promoter Kenny Dobson, who announced the accident on social media, asked the public to offer comfort to those grieving. “Please offer comfort to anyone grieving or struggling today, no matter how this tragedy has affected them,” Dobson wrote. “In this small community and given the public tragedy, that number is quite large.”
Allen Motley, flagman at Adams County Speedway in Quincy and race director at Jacksonville, was among the first to reach Willhite after the accident. Motley, who described Willhite as a close friend, said: “Terrible, just terrible. What happened could happen at any track.”
The Driver: Jeff Beasley
The driver of the sprint car, Jeff Beasley of Mahomet, Illinois, was not publicly identified in most initial reports out of sensitivity to the circumstances. His name was confirmed through subsequent local coverage. Witnesses and early reports indicated that the car’s throttle had stuck, suggesting a mechanical cause rather than driver error. Beasley was reported to be shaken by the incident.
Cause of the Accident
According to witnesses and early reporting by Muddy River Sports, the throttle on Beasley’s 410-winged sprint car became stuck, preventing the driver from reducing speed as the car exited the racing line and entered the infield. The car traveled at high speed before striking Willhite and Pollock.
The incident remained under investigation by local authorities in the days following the accident. An autopsy for Willhite was scheduled for Monday, July 1, 2024, to confirm the official cause of death.
Jacksonville Speedway’s Response
In the days following the accident, track promoter Kenny Dobson announced that Jacksonville Speedway would close for the entire month of July. Dobson cited the need for the racing crew, community, and staff to heal before returning to the track.
“We are going to take the entire month of July off,” Dobson wrote. “A lot of people just need time to heal — physically, mentally and spiritually. There’s zero reason to rush. We are going to take some time and reflect, rest… change a few things, and hopefully allow enough time for that amazing spirit to return.”
The speedway’s planned return date was set for August 9, 2024.
Safety Concerns and Industry Reaction
The accident sent visible ripples through the Illinois and broader Midwest dirt track racing community. Nearby Adams County Speedway in Quincy announced immediate safety measure additions in direct response to the Jacksonville incident. Track operators Jim and Tammy Lieurance informed drivers, workers, and fans of upcoming changes at a Sunday night meeting following the accident.
Brandon Sheppard, a well-known Dirt Late Model racer from southern Illinois, posted a message on social media urging the racing community to offer support to those affected. Multiple racing teams and drivers expressed condolences online in the hours and days following the incident.
The accident renewed discussions around infield worker safety at dirt track events, with specific attention to the positioning of crew members relative to the racing surface during active competition, as well as the adequacy of throttle safety mechanisms on sprint car equipment.
About Jacksonville Speedway
Jacksonville Speedway is a dirt oval track located in Jacksonville, Illinois, in Morgan County, approximately 100 miles north of St. Louis and 35 miles west of Springfield. The track regularly hosts 410-winged sprint car events and is a fixture in the Illinois dirt track racing calendar. Events are promoted by Kenny Dobson.
FAQs
What caused the fatal accident at Jacksonville Speedway? A stuck throttle on Jeff Beasley’s 410-winged sprint car caused it to lose control and enter the infield at high speed, striking infield workers Ralph A. Willhite and Hank Pollock.
Who was killed at Jacksonville Speedway on June 28, 2024? Ralph A. Willhite, 65, of Jacksonville, Illinois. He was a longtime infield crew member at the speedway and was pronounced dead at the scene by Morgan County Coroner Marcy Patterson.
Was anyone else injured in the accident? Yes. Track worker Hank Pollock sustained serious leg injuries and was transported to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital. He remained hospitalized with injuries described as serious in the immediate aftermath.
Did Jacksonville Speedway continue racing after the accident? No. Racing was cancelled for the remainder of that night. The track subsequently closed for the entire month of July 2024, with a planned return on August 9, 2024.
Who was the driver of the sprint car? Jeff Beasley of Mahomet, Illinois was the driver of the 410-winged sprint car involved in the accident.
