Ellingson Family:  Cary, Carly, Stevie and Jo

Photo by Motor Race Images

One of life's lessons caught Rapid City's Carly Ellingson
and her family by surprise in late March.

In a sport that seems so safe and governed by so many safety rules, one if it's youngest competitors was seriously injured in a Junior Dragster accident at Ohio Valley Dragstrip, a National Hot Rod Association sanctioned dragstrip near Louisville Kentucky, on March 31, 2007. Eight year old Kaylee Greer was driving her Junior Dragster for the first time and something went wrong with her car as she completed her first run.  Greer veered into a guard wall head-on as she was turning off the race track. She sustained life threatening injuries and was airlifted to Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville,  Greer was to spend weeks in the hospital struggling to recover from those injuries.  

Following nearly two weeks of observation and surgeries, Greer was fitted with a Halo device to stabilize her neck and spine. Doctors  stated that they have never seen recovery from such injuries.  Countless hours of prayer and therapies have brought her to a point where doctors will tentatively release her from the hospital on July 18.  Months of recovery lie ahead for this little girl.

The major injuries sustained by Greer are the first recorded in  the thirteen year history of sanctioned NHRA Junior Drag Racing.  The class is designed for youngsters aged 8 to 17. They compete in "junior" versions of the sports headlining Top Fuel dragsters. The class is limited to single cylinder, four-stroke, 5hp engines.  Three different age groups are allowed to compete with speed  and and elapsed times closely monitored in each category.  Competition is held on  1/8th mile race tracks to limit speed.

One might ask how Carly Ellingson fits into this story. 13 year old Carly, and her family have been involved in the sport since 2003.  She has won three track championships in her short Junior Dragster career.

As track champion at Sturgis (SD) Dragway in 2003 and 2005 and 2006 track champion at Douglas (WY) International Raceway she knows the highs and lows of winning and losing. 

Carly and her family, father Cary, mom Jo and little sister Stevie, were deeply saddened by the news of Kaylee Greer's accident and terrible injuries. Feeling somewhat helpless and wanting to help in some special way, the family decided set up a lemonade stand at Sturgis Dragway in late June to raise money for the Greer family. The first weekend netted $255 for the family. The Ellingson's were elated by the generosity and vowed to move on and do it again at Oahe Speedway, outside Pierre SD, in early July. On an extremely warm and humid weekend, they raised nearly $845 from the lemonade stand, good will donations, and a passing of Carly's helmet at a pre-race drivers meeting. At least one racer has donated his winnings from his weekend in Pierre to the cause.

Carly and her family were overwhelmed by the heartfelt kindness of all who have contributed to a little girl they have never met. All they know is that Kaylee and her family and friends share the same passion with all who participate in the sport of drag racing. The Ellingson's know that Carly and Stevie, have learned  from this tragedy, life's lesson's at an early age-kindness, caring, and compassion. Those qualities will go a long way in helping Kaylee Greer in her recovery.