From Pete Walton
Atlanta, GA – September 5, 2011 – Twenty-eight year old Ben Basinger from Salisbury, North Carolina who was a former United Sprint Car Series National Rookie of the Year was killed in a highway accident near Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, September 3rd at approximately 11:00 A.M. Basinger was serving his Nation as an F-16 Crew Chief in the United States Air Force at nearby Luke Air Force Base.
Basinger was fatally injured when the vehicle he was driving blew a front tire and left the road, and then struck a drainage culvert causing it to flip over. His Fiancée, Tiffany Rae was a passenger in the vehicle and survived, but, suffered minor injuries. They were engaged to be married soon.
Basinger spent nearly five seasons racing in the United Sprint Car Series from the year 2000 until 2005 seasons. He was the United Sprint Car Series National Rookie of the Year during the 2001 season. He was an impressive young driver and young man who made a great contribution to our series during those years he was involved” stated USCS Founder and President, Pete Walton “This was very sad news to hear. Ben left racing during the 2005 season when he found out he had a child on the way and that family and finances for races couldn’t both work’. God Bless Ben and his family” concluded Walton.
Ben Basinger is survived by, among others, his parents Chris and Leslie Basinger of Salisbury, North Carolina and his sister Stacy Basinger Cauble of Salisbury, North Carolina. He is additionally survived by two young children. The eldest is a son Tyler who is age six years old and daughter Savannah age three years old. He also leaves behind his Fiancée Tiffany Rae of Clinton, Maryland.