Report: NASCAR team member murdered

[kbsooner21]

A mechanic for Brian Vickers' No. 83 Nextel Cup team, was shot and killed outside his home in North Carolina on Saturday night, according to a television report.

Jimmy Sprinkle, 44, was investigating a person coming down his driveway in northeast Alexander County, north of Hiddenite, around 10:30 p.m. Saturday night, according to WSOC-TV. He was shot once in the chest and died at Iredell Memorial Hospital.
According to the report, Alexander County investigators and State Bureau of Investigation agents found the shooter's vehicle, a white 1980s model Monte Carlo with a dark blue top.

Sprinkle, who had been a member of Team Red Bull for about a year, was remembered by the organization with a moment of silence on Monday. The No. 83 team also released a statement:

"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the unfortunate loss of Jimmy Sprinkle's life. We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Jimmy's family and friends. Jimmy was one of those hard-working crew guys with great personality that don't come around very often. Jimmy will be sorely missed at the race shop and at the track."

[wayne1218]

Wtf????


Just Random or what?

[kbsooner21]

Yea, from what I've heard. The guy lived in rural NC and just went to check out this car coming down his driveway and the guy just blasts him. Fucking nuts!

[wayne1218]

There had to be a reason why he was in his driveway and decided to just shoot him.

[10DimeBry]

that would never happen in FBNY!!!

[kbsooner21]

Wayne, you ever hear anything more to this story?

[wayne1218]

Wayne, you ever hear anything more to this story?

Late last night on Inside Nascar (ESPN 2) they said they have the vehicle and are very close to an arrest. They said the case is moving quickly but nothing as far as a motive is known yet. I don't think it was random.

[10DimeBry]

IMO its either organized crime or the guy was into drugs or something like that.

[Ldawg]

IMO its either organized crime or the guy was into drugs or something like that.

Maybe had the same GF !

[kbsooner21]

Man charged with murder of crewman in court Mon.

The man accused of shooting Team Red Bull mechanic Jimmy Sprinkle will appear before the court on Monday.

Earl Wayne Flowers, 51 of Taylorsville, N.C., was arrested without incident Thursday afternoon at his home, charged with the murder of Sprinkle and held without bond. The mechanic for the No. 83 Nextel Cup team was shot and killed in his driveway on March 31.

Investigators aren't releasing many details, but said the two men did not know each other and it appeared the two got into an altercation when Flowers showed up at Sprinkle's residence.

Flowers has a criminal record, but told WSOC-TV in Charlotte he did not shoot Sprinkle.

"I don't know the man. I wasn't involved in it. I didn't shoot him," Flowers said. "I didn't know Jimmy Sprinkle. I never met him in my life, never have."

The suspect's criminal past includes felony convictions for possession of stolen goods, rape, kidnapping and escaping prison.

Flowers is scheduled to appear in court on Monday and authorities said the investigation is ongoing.

On March 31, Sprinkle saw someone coming down the driveway of his home at approximately 10:30 p.m. ET and went outside to investigate. That's when Sprinkle was shot in the chest one time. He died later that night at Iredell Memorial Hospital.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the unfortunate loss of Jimmy Sprinkle's life," Team Red Bull vice president and general manager Marty Gaunt said in a statement. "We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Jimmy's family and friends.

"Jimmy was one of those hard-working crew guys with great personality that don't come around very often."

Sprinkle had been with the No. 83 team for a year and previously worked as a mechanic in the Craftsman Truck Series with Addington Racing and Morgan Dollar Motorsports.