On Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, Dylan Cromwell was killed in a freeway accident whereas driving one of many Head Racing Humorous Automotive transporters to the NHRA Nevada Nationals in Las Vegas. The 23-year-old Montana native made a profound influence on the Head Racing group and driver Blake Alexander, and the group has now banded collectively to type the Dylan Cromwell Memorial Scholarship. Head Racing will even honor Cromwell throughout the upcoming Dodge Energy Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, starting with a celebration of life on Thursday, Aug. 31.
Cromwell was born and raised in Scobey, Mont., a small city within the northeast nook of the state. The area is called the “Center of Nowhere, USA,” as the closest metro space is greater than 4 hours away. Cromwell was proud to name Scobey dwelling, so it was vital to Head, Alexander, and Cromwell’s household to assist different younger folks from Scobey by way of the Dylan Cromwell Memorial Scholarship.
“We now have been working with the Cromwells for a while on establishing this,” stated Jim Head, group proprietor. “Our mission is to assist promising people like Dylan achieve alternatives to hone their expertise in mechanical education. It’s an honor to determine this memorial scholarship alongside the Cromwells and the folks of Scobey, Mont. Dylan’s legacy in his hometown and our sport will as soon as once more be celebrated this weekend.”
The scholarship’s first recipient is Taite Weltikol. An aspiring diesel mechanic, Weltikol plans to attend Montana State College – Northern in Havre, Mont. By way of the scholarship, he’s been supplied with instruments and all different essential objects.
“Comply with your goals and you may go anyplace you need to go,” stated Shane Cromwell, Dylan’s father. “Each purpose my son set, he met. He advised his buddies when he was taking part in tee ball that he was going to be on knowledgeable race group at some point, and he did. As exhausting because it was to see him go, the large plan was for him to be right here a short while, and he completed the whole lot he wanted to right here. We’re excited to get his racing colleagues collectively to have fun Dylan and proceed his reminiscence.”
Forward of the NHRA U.S. Nationals, Alexander, the Head Racing group, and the Cromwell household will go to the crash website on I-70 simply west of Indianapolis with a police presence to unfold ashes. Later, they’ll maintain a celebration of life on the Jonnie Lindberg Motorsports store on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m. EST. Lindberg drove the Head Racing Humorous Automotive when Cromwell, 18 on the time, was employed.
Alexander first met Cromwell in 2019 when he was tapped to fill in for Lindberg at one occasion. Alexander was later named the group’s new full-time driver for the 2020 season, and the 2 started working collectively intently. Cromwell did something from service the underside finish on the Humorous Automotive and drive one of many group transporters to numerous duties on the store, like taking good care of the group canine.
“I’m glad that we will all get collectively this weekend to have fun Dylan’s life and announce one thing that may present alternatives for others,” stated Alexander, who earned his first NHRA Humorous Automotive Wally with Head Racing on the Norwalk race this season. “When Shane advised me what he and Jim had been engaged on, I used to be excited to be a small a part of it. Dylan developed mechanical data at a younger age attributable to his education, and I do know Taite will do the identical studying to be a diesel technician.”
