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Dale Lemonds
 
Complete name: Ernest Dale Lemonds Jr.
Birth date: 17.Oct.1949
Birth Place: Newport News, VA, United States
Death date: 28.Aug.2004
Death Place: Hampton, VA, United States
Nationality: United States
Gender: male
Age at death: 54
 
Event date: 28.Aug.2004
Series: Legends [no further information available]
Race: Legend Cars Race
Event type: race
Country: United States (Virginia)
Venue: Langley Speedway
Variant: 0.395-mile paved oval (1968-present)
 
Role: driver
Vehicle type: car
Vehicle sub-type: stock car
Vehicle brand/model: 600 Racing - Yamaha
Vehicle number: 11
 

Notes:
Dale Lemonds, driver and new owner of the Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia, died at approximately 20h30 on Saturday 28 August 2004, from injuries suffered when his car crashed headfirst into the back straightaway wall.

The accident happened on lap six of the Legend Cars Race at Langley Speedway. Dale had just been passed by his son Chris Lemonds, when his left front wheel touched the right rear wheel of Cameron Patrick's car. The result turned Dale hard right into the wall and he died of a broken neck and massive trauma to his chest. He was transported to Sentara CarePlex Hospital in Hampton by ambulance, though it is believed that he died instantly. It's unclear whether Lemonds was wearing a head-and-neck restraint.

After the accident, track officials halted the race and cancelled the Late Model Sportsman and Super Street races scheduled to follow.

Dale Lemonds, 54, was a retired auto parts dealer, he spent the last 35 years driving racecars in many various divisions, he was two time track champion at Langley Speedway, in 1997 and 1999.

He was survived by his loving wife Sandy; a daughter, Brandy Posey; a son, Christopher; three grandchildren, Savannah, Ryleigh and Mattie.

The first Legend Car race was held at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway on April 1992. The category was created to have a fun and affordable new "spec" class of racing, by the founders H. A. "Humpy" Wheeler and Elliott Forbes-Robinson, famed road racing champion. The vehicles are designed 5/8-scale fiberglass full-fendered versions of the famed modifieds of the 1930s and 40s, and fitted with a sealed Yamaha 1250 cm3 motorcycle engine and full tubeframe with integral rollcage. All the single-seater replica vehicles are built by 600 Racing Inc. - later, US Legend Cars, Inc. - in Harrisburg, North Carolina. Lemonds car emulated a 1937 Chevrolet.

 
Sources:
  • Virginia, U.S., Birth Records, 1912-2015, Delayed Birth Records, 1721-1911.
  • Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014.
  • Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014.
  • Website AUTOSPORT → Forums → The Nostalgia Forum, thread "Speed's Ultimate Price: The Toll", page 43, posting by "John B", message http://forums.atlasf1.com/showthread.php?postid=1771017#post1771017 citing Jayskis NASCAR page.
  • Websites Hampton Roads, page http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=75022&ran=238156 [F1].
  • Website Fox43-TV, page http://www.fox43tv.com/global/story.asp?s=2232035&ClientType=Printable [F1].
  • Website 600 Racing, page http://www.600racing.com/bodyspecs.asp?picture=styles%2Fimage006.jpg&action=car&cartype=1937+Chevy+Sedan&x=65&y=47 and http://www.langley-speedway.com/ [F1].
  • Website The Racing Rev, page http://www.theracingrev.com/lemonds [F1].
  • Website US Legend Cars, page https://www.uslegendcars.com/start-racing/cars/legend-car/ .
  • Website US Legend Cars, page https://www.uslegendcars.com/about-us/mission-and-history/ .
  • Website Find-A-Grave: Ernest Dale Lemonds Jr.
  • E-mail by Hans Fohr, dated 27 April 2005 citing [F1].