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Sunday, August 26

Deadly weekend for racers in America
ESPN.com news services

Three racers died in separate accidents at racetracks around America this weekend, stunning racing circles around the country.

Tim Boswell, 35, of Copley, Ohio, died on Saturday night at Akron General Hospital, a nursing supervisor said, after crashing through billboards at the edge of Barberton Speedway in Ohio and hitting trees.

Driver Kevin Swank said Boswell's car sounded as if its throttle was stuck open.

"The car went down the front stretch at full speed," said Swank, who was watching from the pit area. "I could see smoke coming from the tires. He was on the brake."

Boswell was a substitute driver for the owner of the car, Swank said.

Speedway officials called off the rest of Saturday's heats at the quarter-mile track.

Michael Josselyn died when dust cut visibility and he crashed at the dirt track at Sertoma Motorplex.

Josselyn died Saturday at Thomason Hospital in El Paso, Texas. The 45-year-old driver is well-known on the regional dirt track circuit.

He was taken to Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo. He was then transferred on life support to the El Paso hospital.

The hospital said Monday the cause of death would be determined by an autopsy.

The crash occurred Friday night on the back straightaway with about seven laps remaining in a 20-lap race during the IMCA modified main event.

The cars driven by Josselyn and Pat Carney somersaulted and landed on their roofs.

"Racing was the love of his life," track promoter Max Dale said Sunday. "He was a big, lovable guy. They called him 'Teddy Bear."'

The Sertoma track is three-eighths of a mile and holds modified races several times a year. Fourteen cars were running in Friday's main event.

A memorial service for Josselyn is scheduled for Tuesday night in Alamogordo.

Motorcycle racer Will Davis died in Sadalia, Mo., after crashing in the first lap of a race in the AMA's Grand National Championship.

Davis, 36, was involved with a crash with five other riders on the fourth turn at the State Fairway Speedway on Friday. He died at Bothwell Regional Health Center, according to the American Motorcyclists Association.

Davis, ranked seventh in career AMA Grand National victories with 32, had his first national win in 1989. He turned pro in 1984 and was a five-time champion of the MARS Asphalt Motorcycle Racing Series.

Police were investigating the crash.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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