The Rocky Top Diesel Shootout in Tennessee on Friday claimed the life of Thomas Borrell, a diesel drag racer who documented his builds and runs as Turba Tom on YouTube. He was 34.
During the competition, Borrell’s truck, a Ram with a Cummins engine that he had previously used for both drag racing and sled pulls, took part in 1/8th mile laps. One such run ended with his truck continuing at speed into the woods behind the course after failing to slow down at the end of the shutdown area, according to DragZine. The Crossville Dragway contest was abruptly over after the collision.
During the competition, Borrell’s truck, a Ram with a Cummins engine that he had previously used for both drag racing and sled pulls, took part in 1/8th mile laps.
One such run ended with his truck continuing at speed into the woods behind the course after failing to slow down at the end of the shutdown area, according to DragZine.
The Crossville Dragway contest was abruptly over after the collision.
Since 2017, Borrell had been creating and competing with vehicles on his YouTube channel.
His most recent uploads, which mostly focused on his work and races with the Cummins-powered Ram he had raced at the Rocky Top Diesel Shootout, showed how he used the platform to capture both the building of his trucks and the process of racing them.
Just two weeks prior to the event, he published a video in which he was seen practicing.
A GoFundMe account has already been created to support his family, obituary and funeral.
