Chili Bowl Racer Donnie Ray Crawford III Killed in Family Dispute
Race car driver Donnie Ray Crawford III (pictured) was killed Saturday morning by his grandfather, Daniel Garcia, who also died in the shooting at the family’s home.
Wagoner County Sheriff Bob Colbert says the 74-year-old Garcia, who was living with the Crawford family, went into his grandson’s room and began shooting. Jodi Crawford, Garcia’s daughter and Donnie Ray III’s mother, tried to stop the shooting, as did the boy’s father, Donnie Ray Crawford Jr. Jodi Crawford was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the hip while Donnie Ray Crawford Jr. reportedly was not seriously hurt.
Donnie Ray Crawford III was scheduled to run in the Chili Bowl in Tulsa on Saturday evening.
“This family has been kind of the founders of racing in Tulsa. They came home from the (Chili Bowl) races last night, everything was fine, and apparently for no reason this happened this morning,” Sheriff Colbert told reporters.
“He is the nicest person you will meet. He will do anything for you. Help you out if you need anything and he is great driver on top of that,” said Blake Hahn, Donnie Ray’s teammate.
Garcia served prison time for a 2004 conviction on assault with a deadly weapon. Crawford III was named the 2007 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Rookie of the Year.
Kevin Swindell won the Chili Bowl Saturday. The race was extended five laps to honor Crawford, who drove the No. 55 car.
H/T From the Marbles
