It is with great sadness and gratitude that we bid farewell to Jerry Lackey. With him, we have not only lost one of the founding fathers of the NitrOlympX, but also a very good friend and long-time companion who made a great contribution to the international drag racing scene. In all the years we worked together, we always had the greatest respect for his expertise and professionalism – as a driver and, above all, as the NitrOlympX race director for many years. Through his boundless dedication and enthusiasm, he made a huge contribution to making the NitrOlympX “the pearl of European drag racing”, as he himself proudly called the event.The respect and affection that Jerry “Big Daddy” Lackey received from everyone on the race track was unparalleled, as he easily managed the balancing act between competent boss on the track and approachable contact person who had an open ear for everyone. He was a passionate drag racer and deeply rooted in the scene. His love was not only for the sport, but also for all the fans. The organization of the unique NitrOlympX Nightshow, where the audience is amazed every year with spectacular show acts, was particularly close to his heart.Hockenheim-Ring GmbH could not have wished for a better representative for drag racing in general and the NitrOlympX in particular. In August 2023, he was honored with the NitrOlympX Lifetime Award for his life’s work.

Our deepest condolences go to his family in Germany and the USA. The Hockenheimring team will honor Jerry Lackey’s memory. We will sorely miss him as a role model and loyal friend. He will always be in our hearts – and always with us at the quarter-mile. His fair sporting spirit will live on at the NitrOlympX.