Race car driver dies after crashing into guardrail at Manitowoc Speedway

MANITOWOC -- A race car driver died in a crash at the Manitowoc Speedway Wednesday night, August 24th -- during an Eastern Wisconsin Stock Cars race at the Manitowoc County Fair.

The 28-year-old man crashed into the infield guardrail. The driver was removed from the wreck through the roof of the car. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

According to WLUK, there is a belief the man was dead before he crashed.

Ann Ewen of Manitowoc was there as car #1 crashed into the guardrail.

"There was no stopping or swerving or hesitation. He just drove right into it," Ewen said.

The driver has been identified as Matthew Schuh.

 

"He hit the infield guardrail. His car went up and over that guardrail and got stuck on a concrete barrier," Manitowoc Police Captain Larry Zimney said.

Police say there were eight stock cars on the track at the time of the crash. No one else was injured.

According to preliminary information, the Manitowoc County coroner believes Schuh was dead before the crash -- possibly suffering a medical condition.

"People in the back said they saw him slump over as he came around that corner like he was hung over the steering wheel," Ewen said.

Not knowing the outcome, those in the grandstand, hoped for the best.

"Quiet. Silence. Total silence. They never said he was OK or anything. They just cleaned it up and got the car out of there," Ewen said.

Ewen said her son used to race stock cars, and she remembers running into Schuh.

"Very nice gentleman, very nice father figure for his child, very nice guy," Ewen said.

The crash happened during the second to last race the speedway will host, before it is taken down and turned into a department store.

"It's unfortunate that it had to happen basically in the last season of the track," Zimney said.

The coroner says not to expect a specific cause of death until toxicology test results.