At various trade shows and race events around the country, you’ll find Jeremy Canada and Sarah Simmons greeting racers and selling their wares in the JC’s Race Parts booth. Unfortunately, on the way from the Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury Speedway in Illinois, the two were involved in a highway accident in Logansport, Indiana. Canada incurred life-threatening injuries. Simmons was declared dead on the scene. She was just 36.
From the hospital, Canada posted this update on Facebook:
“As everyone one knows my life was turned completely upside down yesterday about 1pm when a tragic accident took the life of my best friend and the person who was always there Sarah Ann Simmons.
“I’m beat up pretty bad and was ejected from the vehicle with some broken ribs, fractured tail bone, a couple fractured vertebra, a bleed on the brain and some lacerations on my kidneys and spleen.
“I have been completely overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time. I can’t thank you all enough. I’m gonna try to get better and make Sarah proud and continue exactly what we started somehow.”
One of the last messages Simmons posted on her Facebook page was celebrating the win of Wes Staley. The mini stock driver had recently found victory lane at Hilltop Speedway in Millersburg, Ohio.
“My stomach hurts so bad — she’s helped us so much,” said Wes Staley, of Mansfield, Ohio. “JC’s is one of our bigger sponsors. Sarah was such an amazing person. She was always responsive and anything we needed she had. Jeremy is such a cool and chill guy. He always knows exactly what we need when we’re looking for parts, safety equipment, rivets, etc. We’re so thankful for everything they’ve done for us.”
Dirt late model racer Kyle Moore echoed those sentiments.
“They were always happy and willing to help anyone,” Moore said. “She always had a smile on her face!”
Moore is auctioning off the driver’s door of his late model along with two T-shirts and two general admission passes to Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio. To bid visit the team’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KyleMoore1Star/ . Bidding ends on Tuesday, July 30, at 8 p.m.
In addition, Sarah Smith set up a GoFundMe page for the funeral expenses of Simmons and medical expenses for Canada. Smith is a family friend and along with her husband, Ryan, worked shows with JC’s Race Parts. To help the effort, click here.
The Outside Groove Executive Editor has covered motorsports since 2000. His many awards include the 2019 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Jim Hunter Writer of the Year and the 2013 Russ Catlin Award for Excellence in Motorsports Journalism.
