Tragic Accident Claims Life of NASCAR Truck Racer
Posted: October 16, 2000

Editor's Note: The entire staff of PickupTruck.com passes along its sympathies and condolences to
the wife and family of Tony Roper.

Craftsman Truck Series Racer Tony Roper lost his life Saturday after suffering critical injuries in a head-on crash during Friday night's O'Reilly 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Mr. Roper, a 35-year-old native of Fair Grove, Mo., sustained a severe neck injury that stopped the blood flow to his brain. He was left without any brain function and died at 10:55 a.m., said Dr. John LaNoue, the attending trauma surgeon at Parkland.

Roper, the son of ARCA racer Dean Roper, started driving in 1986. In 1992 he moved to the ASA circuit and was the runner up finisher in the American Speed Association's rookie-of-the-year race.

At the end of the 1996 Roper joined forces with Brevak Racing to drive the team's primary entry on the NCTS circuit.

Roper drove for two teams in 1998 and completed his second full season 16th in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point standings. His best career finish was second-place at Indianapolis Raceway that year.

For the 2000 season Roper was racing in the #26 Ford Truck owned by MB Motorsports.

Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Greenlawn North Funeral Home in Springfield, MO. The funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Fair Grove High School Gymnasium in Fair Grove, MO. Click here for maps of the locations. A memorial will also be held in North Carolina, but details have not yet been finalized.

A Tony Roper Scholarship Fund has been established for the Fair Grove, MO school. Donations may be sent to Tony Roper Scholarship Fund, c/o The Bank of Bolivar, 40 North Main, Fair Grove, MO 65648.

The Tony Roper website has set up a message board for fans to express themselves.