Fatality at Jacksonville Speedway as race car strikes man

JACKSONVILLE, Ill — A man is dead after being hit by a race car at an Illinois dirt track. Ralph A. Willhite, 65, of Jacksonville, was in the infield when he was struck by a 410-winged sprint car that had lost control. The Jacksonville Speedway is about an hour and 45 minutes northeast of downtown St. Louis.

Officials say Willhite died at the scene. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.