A track worker at Super Bee Speedway in Chatham, La., died from injuries suffered during Saturday’s race program when he was struck by a Crate Late Model that flipped out of the track near the pit entrance at the end of the frontstretch, according to Salina Elmore, the track's promoter and race director.

Yancy Martin of Saline, La., who prepared the surface at the quarter-mile oval along with supervising track officials and handling the maintenance over the last six seasons, was 63. Family members posted on Facebook that Martin was airlifted to LSU hospital in Shreveport, La., by Ruston-based Pafford Air One.

Elmore said Martin was a former racer who had been around auto racing his entire life and worked closely with her in recent years at the former Chatham Raceway.

“It’s really hard to find the words,” Elmore said, her voice cracking. She referred DirtonDirt.com to a posting she made on the track’s Facebook page.

“Yancy was a vital piece of what we do here,” she wrote, asking everyone to keep his family in prayer. “He will be greatly missed and we will forever cherish the memories we made with him. Our staff, fans, drivers, volunteers (and emergency responders) will also need your prayers in the coming days and weeks.”

Elmore didn’t release the name of the driver in the accident, saying he was “having a pretty hard time” dealing with the accident during the Crate Late Model feature.

The remainder of the night’s program was cancelled after the wreck.