A veteran stock car driver died after suffering a medical emergency during a victory lap at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in West Haven, Vermont, track officials said.
Leon Gonyo, 63, of Chazy, New York, won the speedway’s final asphalt NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Modified race of the season on Saturday night — but never got to collect the checkered flag.
"Mr. Gonyo appeared to suffer a medical event while driving his race car around the speedway during a ceremonial victory lap," the track said in a statement. "His car then made an impact into the front-stretch retaining wall before approaching the victory lane area."
Gonyo was unresponsive as he was taken by ambulance to Rutland Regional Medical Center and never regained consciousness, Justin St. Louis, a spokesman for Devil's Bowl Speedway, told NBC News on Monday.
The cause of death has not been determined. St. Louis said most of Gonyo’s symptoms suggested that he suffered a stroke.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway official Dick Therrien sustained minor injuries when Gonyo’s car struck a ladder that he was standing on, track officials said. He was evaluated at a hospital and released.
Gonyo’s car was inspected after the incident and no mechanical or structural defects were found, the track said.
