Moments after the World 100 at Eldora Speedway ended late Saturday night, fans constructed a memorial for Shane Unger.
A big red heart made from safety tape hung on the outside catch fence in Turns 3-4, marking the spot where Unger’s dirt late model hit the concrete wall. On the ground below, beer cans formed the number 79. Eldora hats, T-shirts and other items were left in honor of the affable driver from nearby Rossburg.
Unger, 35, was injured when his dirt late model was involved in a multi-car accident during his heat race Saturday. His No. 79 spun and ended up with the driver’s side door pinned against the wall, forcing safety crews to cut Unger from the car. He was then transported to Mercer Community Hospital in Coldwater, where he died from his injuries.
In a somber moment, World 100 winner Bobby Pierce – still at the track in the early morning hours celebrating his first win in dirt late model racing’s most prestigious event – brought the trophy to the memorial to honor Unger. Watching above from the concourse were Mike and Jann Unger, Shane’s parents.
“In the first grade, they did a paper on what they wanted to be when they grew up,” Jann said. “He wanted to be a race car driver. He’s never won any big races but he lived his dream.”
Unger was a popular driver, especially at Waynesfield Raceway Park, where he and his brother Shad teamed up to run a modified. Shane had recently started racing late models.
“He was really excited about late models,” said friend and former driver Chad Barr of Piqua. “That was his goal to get into a late model.”
“He always wanted to race. Him and his brother Shad tried harder than anybody in the pits. They never gave up. They were always at the track smiling.”
As the second half of the 100-lap World 100 unfolded, word started spreading on social media and through the nearly 20,000 spectators at Eldora of Unger’s passing.
“He always had that smile on his face,” Barr said. “He was a good dad to his girls, and I knew he loved his girlfriend. He was a very family-oriented man.”
In addition to his parents, Unger is survived by girlfriend Michelle Heindl and their two children.
“Shane was not only a passionate racer but also our neighbor and friend,” Eldora speedway general manager Roger Slack said. “His dad has been Eldora’s track welder assisting race teams at events for 36 years. His mom works in our concessions. His brother was his crew chief. The Unger family are the kind of people that make up the heart and soul of the racing community. It’s a tremendous loss for the entire Eldora family.”
Waynesfield photographer Jerry Travis remembered Unger for his kind gestures. Travis said one of his friends brought a young grandson, who lives in West Virginia, to the track. It wasn’t long before Unger became his favorite driver.
“Shane went up in the stands and talked to that boy for 20 minutes,” Travis said.
Travis gave Unger a photo to sign for the grandson and mailed it to him a few days later.
“He’s still got that hanging on his wall,” Travis said. “He really appreciated a driver talking to him like that. That’s the way he was with fans.”
An official cause of death has not been announced. Funeral arrangements are pending.
“Everybody liked him,” said Shane’s father, Mike. “It seemed like everyone knew him around the race track. He loved racing. It was his dream.”
