ROSSBURG, Ohio — Hometown racer Shane Unger died Saturday night at Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater, Ohio, where he was transported after being involved in a turn-three pileup during the second heat race of the 46th annual World 100 at Eldora Speedway. Unger was 35.

Track general manager announced Unger’s death “with great sadness” at the conclusion of the night’s racing.

“We ask that everyone here in our racing family keep the Unger family in their prayers,” Slack said. “They’ve expressed that they very much appreciate the love and support they’ve received and will continue to receive, and would appreciate everyone respecting their privacy as they go through the grieving process.”

During a late restart in the second prelim, Unger’s car ended up driver’s side-first into the turn-three wall at the half-mile oval. Emergency crews quickly attended to Unger, removing the rollcage to get him out of the car. He was taken to the hospital by an ambulance.