Two-time Dixie champ Coltrane dies at 53
Phil Coltrane of Free Home, Ga., a three-time winner on the Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Racing Series and longtime Late Model regular at the sister tracks of Dixie and Rome speedways, died this morning. He was 53. | Slideshow
He'd been hospitalized since March 11 after suffering a massive stroke and bleeding on the brain, according to family reports on Facebook.
The two-time Dixie champion (1991 and '06), who often raced alongside his younger brother Jody, had his major touring success in Hav-Tampa Series action with back-to-back victories in 1992 at Interstate Raceway in Cordele, Ga., and Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla., and in 1993 at Rome (Ga.) Speedway.
"He was a great one. He sacrificed a lot to be good at racing. That is how he would want to be remembered," Jody Coltrane said. "He ate it, drank it and slept it. He won a lot with a lot less equipment and financing over the years."
Coltrane, who raced regularly through 2013 and appeared part-time for a few more seasons, had 67 career Super Late Model victories including 40 at Dixie, according to track historian Jeff Smith.
The 2000 season was one of his best as he recorded six victories at Dixie, including the $4,000-to-win Pepsi 100 after outdueling runner-up Bobby Turner. He also earned $5,000 in winning 2005's Bill Ingram Memorial victory at Dixie.
Among survivors are children Emilee Burns and Jarrett Coltrane. The funeral is 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at Conn's Creek Baptist Church in Ball Ground, Ga.; burial will follow at Conn's Creek. Arrangements by Canton Funeral Home.
Editor's note: Updates with arrangements; additional information provided by Kelley Carlton.
