The motorsports community is still in shock after news broke that driver Chris Raschke passed away in a crash during the 2025 Speed Week at the Salt Flats of Bonneville, Utah.
Chris was an experienced racer, a lifetime member of the famed 200 mph Club, and automotive industry veteran—notably as Sales and Marketing Director with ARP, a company he had helped grow since the 1990s. His years of dedication led him to become a well respected ambassador for our racing and gearhead cultures.
On a more personal note, Chris was also a dear friend to Summit Racing and many of its employees. Starting Sunday afternoon, numerous emails and texts have been exchanged between our colleagues expressing sympathies, sorrow, and support.
No stranger to the Bonneville salt, Chris was a key member of the Speed Demon racing team, made famous by George Poteet and the iconic Speed Demon II streamlined racer—the fastest piston engine/wheel driven car in the world.
In the all-new Speed Demon III streamliner assembled after Poteet’s passing, Chris and the Speed Demon team were eyeing the coveted 500 mph mark. Wearing red, white, and blue livery and a “Godspeed George” decal on the nose, the new Speed Demon III had made a successful trial run the day prior before tragedy stuck on Sunday, August 3, 2025.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Raschke family, the Speed Demon team, and all of the racers, enthusiasts, and gearheads whose lives have been touched by Chris’ extraordinary personality.
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