Death of girl, 7, in Florida raceway crash fuels grief amid sport's popularity

[Zorro]

“Motorsports is built on passion, but moments like these remind us of the risks that come with what we love,” the dragway said in a statement.

The tragic death of 7-year-old Elienisse Zoe Diaz Rodriguez in a drag-racing accident at a popular east Orange County speedway is generating grief, sympathy, and focus on a sport that enthusiasts insist is generally safe — even for children too young to drive a regular automobile.

“Junior drag racing has been very, very, very safe for more than 20 years,” said Bill Hartzel, an Orlando resident who has been racing at the Orlando Speed World Dragway track since he was youngster nearly six decades ago.

“This is entry-level racing and they have all the safety equipment that the big boys have: the helmet, the gloves, the seat belts, the fire suits, the HANS device,” he said, referring to the head-and-neck support device that attaches to the driver’s helmet. The regulations are created and enforced by racing associations, not government entities.

Ernie Padget Sr. agreed with Hartzel’s sentiment, remaining supportive of racing even though his son, Chad, was killed while drag racing at the same race track nearly a decade ago.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2025/02/07/orlando-speed-world-accident-2025-elienisse-diaz/

Who thinks it's a great idea to allow kids as young as 5 to compete in sanctioned drag races? The NHRA, that's who.