The Crash

May 15th, 1988

Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

On the fourth lap of the first heat race, the front end of Sue's car broke sending her flipping end over end and landing on the turn One wall, and was knocked unconscious. It was reported that she stopped breathing, and was revived by volunteer fireman Joe Whipperfurth. Sue was air lifted by a Med Flight helicopter to the University of Wisconsin Hospital.

The first of two surgeries was performed on the Med Flight before reaching the hospital. The second surgery was performed a week later. Sue survived with multiple skull fractures resulting in hearing loss and facial paralysis. A year later, Sue climbed back into the car, never slowing down.