Thomas Albert Dunford of Tazewell, Va., passed after crashing his dragster July 23 at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, Maryland. Dunford was 60.

According to the official St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s office press release, for unknown reasons, it appears he failed to activate his brakes or parachute causing the dragster to travel through the sandpit, water barrels, and into the trees at the end of the track.

Medical emergency personnel pronounced Dunford deceased at the scene.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Collision Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.

Dunford was competing in the Top ET class during the Super Bowl of Bracket Racing at the track, an event which began July 20 and concluded July 23.

“The only thing I can tell you is that the engine was at full throttle all the way through the shutdown until it went off the track,” said Royce Miller, GM at Maryland International Raceway, Monday afternoon in a phone interview with CompetitionPlus.com. “The reasons of why and how are still being investigated. He (Dunford) was one of the good ones and it’s really sad to have one of our racing family’s (life) end like this.”  

Miller told CompetitionPlus.com Dunford was racing someone during his fatal crash, but the driver in the other lane suffered no injuries.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has additional information is asked to contact Corporal Brian Connelly at 301-863-4816, ext. *1456 or by email, Brian.Connelly@stmarysmd.com.