Jesse Hockett

Jesse Hockett, one of the nation's top sprint car drivers, died Wednesday afternoon while working on an electrical box in his race car trailer at his shop near his home in Warsaw, Missouri.

He was preparing his car for this weekend's Lucas Oil ASCS event in Jetmore, Kansas, and had just completed a three-race winning weekend at Sedalia, Lake Ozark, and Double-X.

Hockett had developed into one of the nation's very best non-wing drivers over the past several years, winning the Oval Nationals at Perris Auto Speedway, twice a winner of the Ron Shuman Classic at Lakeside Speedway, and the high-paying Ultimate Challenge at Oskaloosa, Iowa.

He won the very last race at the famed Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix before the facility was closed.

Hockett was also a contender for the non-wing Lucas Oil Sprint Bandits and trailed Shane Stewart by just three points heading into this weekend's Steve King Memorial at Jetmore, Kansas.

It was just four years ago, Jesse lost his cousin and crew chief Daniel McMillin in an auto accident.