Carlos Pardo was the 2004 NASCAR Mexico Series champion and one of the series' most popular drivers. Racing in front of his home fans at Puebla, he was leading the race when disaster struck.
On the final lap, Pardo's car hit the wall at nearly 200 km/h. He was declared the winner posthumously – the first time in NASCAR history a driver won a race after being fatally injured. He was 33, and his death stunned Mexican motorsports.
At a Glance
- Born: September 16, 1975, Mexico City, Mexico
- Died: June 14, 2009, Puebla, Mexico
- Age: 33
- Cause of death: Injuries from a crash in a NASCAR Mexico Series race at Autodromo Miguel E. Abed
Final Resting Place
Cremated at Panteón Español, Mexico.
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.