NASCAR driver Carlos Pardo dies in fiery wreck

NASCAR Mexico Series champion Carlos Pardo was killed Sunday in a race in Mexico.

Pardo, 33, was in the lead in the 97th lap of a race on Autódromo Miguel E. Abed in Amozoc, Puebla. Competitor Jorge Goeters nudged his car from behind, pushing it into a wall at 120 miles per hour.

Pardo’s car disintegrated on impact. He was airlifted to a hospital, where he died 45 minutes later. Survivors include a wife, Ana, and an infant child. Pardo’s brother Ruben is also a NASCAR competitor.

In a statement, a NASCAR Mexico representative Chad Little said:

“Carlos Pardo was a tremendous competitor and person. On behalf of everybody in the NASCAR family, our thoughts and prayers go out to Carlos’ family and friends.”

Pardo was posthumously named the winner of Sunday’s tragic competition.