Drag-Racing Champ Davis Dies From Crash Injuries

SUWANEE, GA -- Ronnie "The King" Davis, a drag-racing champion whose nickname signified his dominance of the sport in the Atlanta area, has died after a crash Saturday at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina.

Davis, 58, was a resident of Suwanee, where he was owner of Davis Golf Carts.

He died Sunday after suffering injuries in a Saturday crash of his 1963 Corvette during a qualifying race at Rockingham on Saturday, the race track announced.

Davis was a five-time International Hot Rod Association champion and the defending Professional Drag Racers Association champion in the Top Sportsman class.

Early in his career, Davis earned his "King" nickname by dominating a "King of the Hill" competition at Atlanta Speed Shop Dragway.

On Saturday, Davis had just completed a 4.13-second qualifying run at more than 178 mph when his car turned left, then shot violently back across the track in front of a rival racer's car.

His Corvette cleared a right-side guard wall, then barrel-rolled, the Dragway said in a written statement.

Davis was treated by medical personnel at the track before being transported to Moore County Regional Hospital in Pinehurst and, later, UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill.

Davis's golf cart business also was the official pit-vehicle provider to the PDRA and many of his racing rivals were also his golf-cart customers.

Davis is survived by his longtime companion, Mickey Deering, of Suwanee, and by daughters Michelle Seger and Bridgett Medina, of Texas.

On Rockingham's Facebook post about his death, tributes to Davis were pouring in on Monday.

"So sad to hear this. RIP King Ronnie. You dominated your sport not only with your talent but also your respect for the track and fellow racers," one fan wrote.

(Photo courtesy Rockingham Dragway)