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Former NHRA Sport Compact star and Top Alcohol racer Stephanie Eggum died Thursday, August 1st, after a tragic skydiving accident in Illinois. News reports state that Eggum was skydiving and apparently deployed her reserve parachute at too low of an altitude after her main parachute failed to open. The well-known racer had a passion for drag racing and skydiving, and was practicing a jump that involved 40 to 50 people who would link hands before separating, planned for the following day. The incident is still under investigation by Illinois authorities.

She spent two years competing as an amateur in the NOPI Drag Racing Association’s all-women Chic Class, and turned professional in 2004 to race in the Pro 4 Cylinder class. She was licensed to compete in an Alcohol Dragster and Funny Car, and set and held the ET and MPH records in the NHRA Hot Rod, NDRA Pro 4 Cylinder, and Battle of the Imports Pro Import class, all of which stand today. Eggum also set the world record for quickest and fastest FWD Honda while winning 10 of 13 events in 2007. Eggum was well-known in the drag racing world. Her career started after she developed an interest in drag racing along with her father following a previous skydiving accident. She had attended racing classes with legendary teachers Doug Foley and Frank Hawley during her racing career, and according to her LinkedIn page was also interested in scuba diving and target shooting.

In addition, the Illinois athlete was a registered USPA Pro Skydiver and BASE jumper. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family at this difficult time.