Photo: Nigel Kinrade, NKP for Ford Performance
Zachary Yager, a long-time pit crew member working across NASCAR’s National Series, has passed away at the age of 34.
The Rochester, New York-native was a member of the Elite Race Services family, a company that specializes in assembling and leasing pit crews to organizations across NASCAR’s National Series.
“Obviously, nobody saw this coming, and we’re in total disbelief,” Cory DeMarco, owner of Elite Race Services, tells TobyChristie.com. “All of the guys send our thoughts and prayers out to his dad and family, right now.”
Photo: Matthew T. Thacker, NKP for Ford Performance
“Why not us?”
That’s the message that Rick Ware Racing and driver Cody Ware were sending heading into the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway.
Heading into the weekend, that had the entire organization jacked up and ready to try and pull off the upset of all upsets, getting 36th-ranked Cody Ware into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
The final rundown for Saturday’s event will show a 20th-place finish for the No. 51 Arby’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse, but there were several moments throughout the 160-lap event where that earth-shattering win seemed like a possibility.