Deaths at Rex Speedway
Rex Speedway was forced to close because of fatal crashes 3 years in a row. One of the people who died in a race at "The Rex" was Art Bailey. Art Bailey was a veteran who drove a Buick 8-powered hot rod at rex speedway. Bailey died when he was 34 after sustaining a fractured skull, a broken leg, broken ribs, and other iternal injuries. Bailey's car had flipped four times and when it stopped rolling, it pinned Bailey underneath. Art Bailey's car collided with the car of Mr. Bernie Wehner from Austin, Minnesota. The collision happened during the 11th lap of the race. Bailey is burried at Conger Community Cemetery Conger, Freeborn County, Minnesota, USA.
Another fatal crash victim at Rex Speedway was Paul Fjerstad. Fjerstad, a WWII veteran who served in the U.S. Naval Reserve, was racing at Rex when he overturned a corner on the track. Fjerstad was ejected from the car, after which, he was run over by two following cars.
Fjerstad did not die immediately, passing away later in Riverview Memorial Hospital. Fjerstad left behind his wife, his daughter, his parents, his three brothers, and five sisters. Later on in the week, there was a benifit race where the drivers dedicated their earnings to Fjerstads family and they created a fund for his widow and his daughter.