Darrell James Russell (September 20, 1968 – June 27, 2004)[1] was an American National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racer.
In four seasons of competition driving Joe Amato's NHRA Top Fuel Dragster, he compiled a record of 106 round wins versus 75 losses.
In 2004 at the NHRA Sears Craftsman Nationals at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois, near St. Louis,[3] he was competing in the second round of eliminations against Scott Kalitta when his dragster went out of control and crashed just past the finish line.
Russell was extracted from his dragster by NHRA emergency services officials and transported by air to the St. Louis Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
To enforce this, Goodyear officials check, and if needed, adjust rear tire pressures at the starting line to meet the 7 psi minimum requirement.