Alexander

Alexander died Thursday night when his car hit the wall head-on in the final laps of the Automobile Racing Club of America race. Although ARCA is not associated with NASCAR, it's viewed as a training ground for the big leagues and many of the cars used are discarded Winston Cup models.

That was the case with the 25-year-old Alexander, who had spent time competing in the Busch series and was well-known in the garage area. So his death saddened the NASCAR competitors, still grieving the loss of four other peers over the last 17 months.

"He was a very likable kid and he had talent," said Winston Cup driver Jimmy Spencer, who had served as a mentor to Alexander and has known his family for more than 20 years. "He came down to North Carolina to make it big in NASCAR, and I believe he was on his way to doing that."

Spencer was still at the track Thursday night when Alexander wrecked with four laps to go in the EasyCare 100. He rushed to see Alexander's father, Blaise Sr., and brother, who had been in the pits at the time of accident and spent time with them after Alexander was pronounced dead.

"I've got this bulletin board up in my shop and if you take something, all I ask is you write it on the board," Spencer said. "Blaise was in there Monday and took some shocks and springs and put his name up on the board. It's still up there and it won't come down until I don't know when. I really liked him a lot."

Alexander wrecked after passing leader Kerry Earnhardt coming out of Turn 4. He was clipped on the right side of his car as he drifted up the banking to get in front of Earnhardt.

His Pontiac made a hard cut to the right and hit the wall almost head-on. It collected Earnhardt's Chevrolet on the rebound, flipping that car and sending it hurtling 200 yards down the track on its roof with flames shooting out of it.

Earnhardt, eldest son of the late Dale Earnhardt, was not harmed in the accident. But a team spokesman said Friday he was struggling with Alexander's death in light of his father's fatal accident Feb. 18 in the season-opening Daytona 500.

"He's very upset for the Alexander family and friends because he understands the emotions from just four or five months ago," said Ty Norris, vice president of Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Alexander was not wearing any type of head and neck restraint system when he was killed, but did have on an ARCA-mandated neck collar. Both veteran drivers and young ones scoffed at the device, calling it fit only for go-kart racing.

"I guess a collar like that can help with some head whipping, but it's just foolish to wear one instead of the other options," said two-time Busch series champion Randy LaJoie. "You are just a plain fool not to wear something else these days."

Autopsy results are pending on Alexander, but the track physicians who worked on him Thursday night said the injuries were consistent with a basal skull fracture -- the same thing that killed Earnhardt, Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin.

NASCAR truck series driver Tony Roper died last October of a neck injury.

None of the drivers were wearing any kind of head and neck restraint at the time of their deaths and some believe such devices could have saved them. Either way, Spencer blamed himself for Alexander not having a HANS or Hutchens device at the time of the accident.

"We had not lost many drivers for a long time and now we lose five. Why is that happening and what are we going to do about it?" Spencer asked. "I don't know, but Blaise didn't have any devices on. Is that something? Who knows. It's probably my fault, though, for not recommending one."

Jimmie Johnson, one of Alexander's closest friends, struggled through Busch series practice Friday, stopping often to shed a few tears and remember his friend. He had seen Alexander's car on Wednesday night and noticed the lack of safety devices inside it.

He mentioned it to his friend in passing, not thinking twice about it. Then, minutes before the race began, he felt the urge to go wish Alexander good luck.

Johnson said he spoke briefly with Alexander on pit road, then headed home listening to the race on the radio.