Sibling NASCAR drivers involved in a tragic accident; budding driver dies at the age of 17

NASCAR mourns the death of Mexican driver Federico Gutierrez.

Sibling NASCAR drivers involved in a tragic accident; budding driver dies at the age of 17

Federico Gutierrez and Max Gutierrez

Mexican NASCAR driver siblings Max Gutierrez and his youngster brother, Federico Gutierrez, were involved in a tragic car accident in Mexico on January 29. Federico was pronounced dead on the scene, while Truck series driver max was airlifted for emergency medical attention to Mexico City and is expected to be released soon.

The incident occurred 60 miles west of Mexico City and involved two elderly couples driving a truck. An 80-year-old man who drove the truck was accompanied by his 65-year-old wife and another 41-year-old woman. Fortunately, the couple suffered minor injuries and was airlifted to near hospital for medical attention.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0P8gEiNJ5g

While Max Gutierrez was making a name for himself in the Truck series and ARCA regional series, brother Fico was learning the trade in the Mexican NASCAR series. After the unfortunate death, NASCAR-Mexico released an official statement that read, “We are devastated by the loss of our friend and driver Federico Gutierrez Hoppe.  Our thoughts are prayers are with the Gutierrez family during this difficult time,”.

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“Rette Jones Racing offers its deepest sympathies to the Gutierrez family for the loss of their son, Federico. Fico was not only a fierce competitor but also a friend and forever a member of our racing family.  He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family, but also with Max during his recovery and grieving process,” RJR released a statement on Fico’s death.

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The Gutierrez brother’s NASCAR legacy

Max Gutierrez
Max Gutierrez

Max and Federico are two of the most promising young talents recently climbing the NASCAR ladder from Mexico. Both the drivers have already made their debut in the premier circuits in America, and 20-year Max was searching for a full-time lower series ride, while Fico was focused on the Mexican series.

Max droves part-time for AM Racing in the Truck series, driving the No:22 and No:37 Trucks. He made it into 4 races last year and scored a P8 in Nashville. He made two ARCA Mendes series starts with AM and scored a top 10. He also started a race for Rette Jones Racing in the ARCA west series and finished P3. In the same event, he scored his main and only victory in 2021 for RJR.

Nicknamed Fico, younger brother Federico who was just 17, was already proving his worth in Mexican national series races. He drove in the 24 Hours of Mexico at the age of 13, a record that still holds. Fico has already made his debut in the US in a late model race. He finished P5 in the 2021 Truck Mexico Series.

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