Driver Chris Raschke dies in crash at Speed Week on Bonneville Salt Flats
The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), which hosts the land speed racing event, announced on Sunday that 60-year-old Chris Raschke died while attempting a speed record.
'At approximately 3:03 p.m. Mountain Time today, driver Chris Raschke, age 60, was attempting a speed record and lost control of his land speed vehicle at approximately the 2 1/2 mile,' said the statement shared by the SCTA.
'Chris was treated by medical professionals at the scene. Unfortunately, Chris passed away from his injuries. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.'
Raschke's Speed Demon team also shared the SCTA statement, writing: 'At this time, we ask everyone to please respect Chris's family, friends, and the Speed Demon team. We are deeply devastated.'
CNN Sports has contacted the Tooele County Sheriff's Office regarding Raschke's death.
Speed Demon lays claim to having created the world's fastest piston-powered car, and the long, bullet-shaped vehicle being driven by Raschke in Bonneville was the third iteration of the streamliner.
At last year's Speed Week with Raschke as the driver, the Speed Demon team won a 12th Hot Rod Magazine Trophy, posting a winning mile-speed of 446.716 mph and an exit speed of 459.734 mph.
Bonneville, a dry lakebed on the border of Utah and Nevada, has long been an iconic location for land speed records, with Speed Week attracting around 500 hot rods, roadsters and motorcycles each year.
CNN's Ann O'Neill contributed to this report.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Christian Brothers Automotive Doubles Down on Growth and Team Investment
Houston-Based Automotive Repair Franchise to Open $12M Technology and Training Center and Expand Shop AC Installations as Part of Long-Term Commitment to its People HOUSTON, Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Christian Brothers Automotive (CBA), leading automotive repair franchise, today announced two major initiatives that signal the brand's long-term investment in its people and continued national growth. The brand will soon break ground on a $12 million Technology & Training Center in Katy, Texas, and accelerate a system-wide effort to install air-conditioning in every service bay by mid-2027—an uncommon benefit in the aftermarket space. "If we want to be the best in class, we need to invest in our people and that means more than just training," said Michael Suttle, Chief Development Officer at Christian Brothers Automotive. "These investments reflect how much we value our team members, and how seriously we take our responsibility to care for them." The nearly 14,000-square-foot facility, set to open in early 2027 at 25801 Nelson Way, will serve as a national hub for hands-on training in both technical and guest-service excellence. Equipped with the latest in automotive repair technology including vehicle lifts, diagnostic equipment, and tools for automated driving systems (ADAS), the facility marks a major milestone in CBA's commitment to employee growth and operational excellence. The Katy campus also represents the first phase of a broader vision for the brand's future. In the coming years, CBA plans to relocate its corporate Support Center from Houston's Energy Corridor to the same site, creating a unified headquarters capable of supporting up to 500 employees. In tandem with the Technology & Training Center, CBA is expanding its shop enhancement initiative. More than 100 shops have been retrofitted to feature air-conditioned service bays, and all new shops south of I-70 are now built with AC included. The brand is also supporting franchisees who opt to retrofit existing shops, as part of a broader effort to foster a more comfortable and competitive work environment. "As we look toward the future of our brand, this new campus and our facility upgrades reinforce our belief that growth and purpose go hand in hand," said Donnie Carr, President and CEO of Christian Brothers Automotive. "It's about so much more than building infrastructure. We're creating an environment where our team members, franchisees, and guests all benefit from a stronger, more united brand experience." Founded in Mission Bend, Texas in 1982, Christian Brothers Automotive has redefined the auto care experience. Ranked #1 by J.D. Power for Customer Satisfaction among Aftermarket Full-Service Maintenance and Repair Providers six times in a row**, the brand's priority is to create a positive experience for every guest. From oil changes to complex engine diagnostics, Christian Brothers Automotive adheres to the principle, "Love your neighbor as yourself," and exhibits this commitment through its people-first approach to car care. To learn more about the company and its growing footprint, visit About Christian Brothers Automotive CorporationDedicated to its brand mission "To love your neighbor as yourself," Christian Brothers Automotive has firmly planted its roots in faith and honesty, which have set it apart in the auto services and repair industry. Standing out from the competition, Christian Brothers Automotive ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Aftermarket Full-Service Maintenance and Repair Providers by J.D. Power six times in a row.** With its guiding principles instilled from the very first location in 1982, Christian Brothers Automotive has successfully expanded to more than 315 locations across 30 states. The Houston-based franchise delivers a variety of professional auto-care experiences including upkeep, maintenance, and repair. **Christian Brothers Automotive received the highest score for aftermarket full-service maintenance and repair in the J.D. Power 2019, 2021–2025 Aftermarket Service Index (ASI) Satisfaction Studies of customer satisfaction with automotive aftermarket service providers. Visit for more details. MEDIA CONTACT: Hayden Koone, Fish919cbac@ 893-9150 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Christian Brothers Automotive
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tesla drivers can pursue class action over self-driving claims, judge rules
By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) -Tesla must face a certified class action by California drivers who said Elon Musk misled them for eight years about the self-driving capabilities of his company's electric vehicles. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin said the common question of whether Tesla lacked sensors to achieve high-level autonomy plus its inability to "demonstrate a long-distance autonomous drive with any of its vehicles" justified group lawsuits by two sets of drivers who bought its Full Self-Driving technology package. In her decision on Monday, the San Francisco-based judge also said thousands of people likely saw Tesla's claim in the "Autopilot" section of its website from October 2016 to August 2024 that its vehicles contained hardware for full self-driving. Tesla made a similar claim in a blog post, newsletter and quarterly earnings call, as did Musk at a 2016 press conference. "While these channels alone may not ordinarily be enough to establish class-wide exposure for a traditional car manufacturer, Tesla's distinctive advertising strategy warrants a departure from the typical approach," Lin wrote. Tesla does not use mass advertising or independent dealers, and Lin said it was reasonable to infer that class members interested in Full Self-Driving technology went to Tesla's website to get information. Lawyers for Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. The Austin, Texas-based company had said it was unreasonable to assume all class members saw the challenged statements, and there was no common proof the statements were material. Class actions can allow larger recoveries at lower cost than if plaintiffs were forced to sue individually. The California classes include drivers who bought the Full Self-Driving package from May 19, 2017, to July 31, 2024, and opted out of Tesla's arbitration agreement, and drivers who bought the package from October 20, 2016, to May 19, 2017. Lin refused to certify a class of drivers who bought Tesla's Enhanced Autopilot package because its "core product qualities" did not require full self-driving functionality, making Tesla's alleged false statements immaterial to purchasing decisions. Federal officials have examined whether Tesla's full self- driving software is safe. The software is also a key component of Tesla's robotaxis. The case is In re Tesla Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-05240. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tesla Is in the S&P 500: 4 Things That Means for Investors in 2025
Tesla (TSLA) stock has had its up and downs of late, but it's certainly been up over time. Tesla is part of the S&P 500; the index most analysts use to measure the overall market. Explore More: Consider This: What does Tesla's presence on the S&P 500 mean for investors in 2025? Here's what you need to know. Tesla Is Number 9 on the S&P 500 As the name implies, there are 500 stocks on the S&P 500. Tesla is number nine on this list, which means it carries more weight on the index than 98% of the companies on the list, per Slickcharts. Find Out: Tesla Makes Up Nearly 2% of the Index The S&P 500 is a weighted index, with the larger companies higher on the list and comprising a larger percentage of the overall metric. In the case of Tesla, its stock makes up 1.82% of the total S&P 500 index. Tech Stocks Dominate The top 10 stocks in the S&P 500, which make up 38% of the index, are nearly all tech or tech-adjacent stocks. They are Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Meta, Broadcom, Alphabet (Class A), Alphabet (Class C), Tesla and Berkshire Hathaway. This Can All Add Up to Volatility The S&P 500 is a bellwether for the general market, so it is expected to have some volatility. But the heavy concentration of tech stocks could mean extra volatility, especially as tariffs take effect and companies are incented to move manufacturing to the U.S. Tesla, for example, is up 68% in the past year but down 20% year to date, as of Aug. 7, 2025, according to Yahoo! Finance. Its 52-week range is $192.04 to $488.54 — a very wide spread, particularly for a company of its size. What Is the S&P 500? The S&P500 consists of 500 of the largest U.S. stocks, weighted by market capitalization. This means that the largest companies are represented by a larger percentage than smaller companies. Nvidia is the largest company in the S&P 500 and represents 7.72% of the total index. The S&P 500 is broadly used as an indicator for the stock market overall, and, by extension, the health of the U.S. economy. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average (commonly referred to as 'the Dow' or even 'the market') is often what news outlets report on, that index consists of just 30 stocks. The S&P 500 represents more companies and therefore may be a better barometer for the health of the market. The S&P 500 isn't always the same 500 companies. Companies can be added and removed, based on decisions by the experts at the S&P Dow Jones Indices. These decisions are made four times a year. To be included in the S&P 500, a company must have a market capitalization of at least $22.7 billion in the most recent quarter, according to Charles Schwab. It must have been profitable for at least the last four quarters. It must be based in the United States, and its stock must be traded on an approved U.S. stock exchange. When it was announced that Tesla would be added to the S&P 500 in 2020, its shares gained 60% from the time the announcement was made until it was actually included the following month. A company's shares will often spike when it is added to the index, if for no other reason than that such stocks are included in many index funds that seek to mirror the performance of the S&P 500 itself. Tesla remains profitable despite its recent sales declines. At its July earnings call, the company reported that profits declined for the third quarter in a row, The New York Times reported. If the company were to report a quarterly loss, it would risk being removed from the S&P 500. The inclusion of Tesla on the S&P 500 is certainly justified, given the company's success. Whether it remains there will depend on the company's ability to continue to record profitable results. More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 9 Downsizing Tips for the Middle Class To Save on Monthly Expenses 10 Unreliable SUVs To Stay Away From Buying This article originally appeared on Tesla Is in the S&P 500: 4 Things That Means for Investors in 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
