Veteran Texas doorslammer competitor Ronnie Hobbs succumbed to injuries he sustained on Friday evening in a racing accident at the Mid-West Drag Racing Series’ Great Bend Nationals at the SRCA Dragstrip in Great Bend, Kansas.

Born in West Texas, Ronnie had a love for all things fast and grew up racing in the streets and at the drag strip. In the early 1990’s, he took a break from racing to focus on raising his family and building his career. In 2009, he founded Lone Star Corporation and grew it into a trusted and respected electrical contractor in the Permian Basin. Ronnie returned to the sport in recent years with fresh vigor and his family by his side. He competed at no-prep and Pro Modified events, first in a Chevrolet S-10 known as the “Texas Rattlesnake,” and later a 2017 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350. After some early success with the car in Radial vs The World, Hobbs found himself a home in the Mid-West Drag Racing Series. He entered the Great Bend event seventh in the series standings.

Photo by Patrick Williams

Never without a smile, Hobbs’ personality and passion for the sport was infectious, and the outpouring of love for he, his wife Mara, and the entire Hobbs family on social media in the hours following the accident only affirmed the respect and admiration he had earned from his peers and all who knew or met him.

”Our large family is all grieving terribly. Thank you for your respect and love,” it said in a statement. That series added, in a statement issued on Monday:

The Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS) is saddened over the passing of Pro Mod driver Ronnie Hobbs following an on-track incident during Friday night qualifying at the MWDRS Great Bend Nationals at SRCA Dragstrip. 
 
Hobbs, a recent winner in Stroud Safety Pro Mod, lost control of his screw-blown “Texas Rattlesnake” ’17 GT350 Mustang, impacted the right-side retaining wall, and exited the racing surface. He passed away at the scene. 
 
“The loss of Ronnie Hobbs is a huge blow to us and the drag racing world and everybody affected by it,” said Keith Haney, founder and owner, MWDRS. “He was a total advocate for MWDRS, period. Just a tremendous loss. He was doing what he loved, that’s for sure. He really loved drag racing. Not that that makes it any easier or any better. All of us at the MWDRS offer our deepest condolences to Ronnie’s family, friends, and fans.”
 
MWDRS and SRCA Dragstrip officials postponed the rest of the Great Bend Nationals following the incident out of respect for Hobbs and his family. Officials and racers spent Saturday morning remembering Hobbs. 
 
“Jr. Dragster racers from the area and from Colorado went and got flowers and put them outside his motorhome door for Mara [Hobbs’ wife] and their family and crew,” Haney said. “Then we held a great Racers for Christ service that everyone attended the next morning.”
 
Another racer, Robert Gallegos, was in the other lane and contacted Hobbs’ car. Gallegos wasn’t injured in the incident. 
 
“I’m glad Robert Gallegos is well and made it out unscathed,” Haney said. “His car is not, but I’m glad that he didn’t get hurt as well.”
 
Between officials and fellow race team members, first responders reached Hobbs’ car as quickly as possible, and Haney commended those individuals for their efforts. 
 
“The track staff did a good job handling a situation they’ve never faced before,” Haney said. “I have to thank the SRCA staff and Tim Davis, Andrew Alepa, Jimmy Boles, Cale Hancock, and Todd Martin for being first on the scene and making sure everything was handled professionally.” 
 
MWDRS officials are working on a plan to handle the points and competition aspect of the Great Bend Nationals and will provide updates on the MWDRS Facebook page and website. 
 
The Summit Racing Equipment Mid-West Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service will race again in two weeks at the Summer Speed Spectacular, June 17-18, at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis.
 
“Ronnie wouldn’t want us to stop,” Haney said. “He loved our series. We do what we do so racers like Ronnie have a place to race. We have to move forward. My team is very shaken up, but he wouldn’t want us to not go forward.”

All of us at Dragzine extend our thoughts and our prayers to Hobbs’ family and the Mid-West Drag Racing Series community on this loss felt by so many around the sport.