A well-known drag racer and Discovery star has been killed in a crash at an Ohio track.
Chris “Block” Gordon, 40, died on Saturday at KD Motorsports Park in South Webster, Scioto County, event organizers confirmed in a Facebook post. The veteran driver was participating in a weekend event at the southern Ohio race course when the fatal smash-up occurred.
“As most of you know by now, we had a devastating accident last night at the track involving our great friend and fellow racer, Chris ‘Block’ Gordon,” KD Motorsports Park wrote in the post.
“Please keep his wife and family in your thoughts and prayers as we all try to mourn the loss of this good man, an absolute legend of our sport,” the post continued.
“Our staff was immediately on scene with trained medical staff, firefighters, EMT and medical equipment, along with highly medically trained bystanders who exhausted all of their efforts at the time of the accident,” organizers added. No further details were given about the circumstances of the crash.
Block grew up in South Carolina, watching his father, a grudge racer, compete at local tracks. He rose to national prominence as one of the team leaders on Discovery’s “Street Outlaws: Fastest in America,” leading South Carolina to a victory on the series.
He became famous for his 1979 Ford Fairmont, known as “Mayhem” to fans of the show.
Friends and family paid tribute to Gordon on social media following news of his death.
“I went to high school with him, and we were in marching band together. Always lit up the room when he walked in, never knew him to be mean or rude to anyone,” wrote one Facebook user.
“Grew up down the street from him, he used to test his cars on his street when I was a kid. Was always so cool to see, RIP,” added another.
“Prayers to him and his family I remember watching him on ‘Street Outlaws,’ he will be missed,” wrote a third.
The Scioto County Sheriff’s Office did not respond immediately to requests for comment on the incident.