A seven-year-old junior drag racer died Tuesday evening, February 4, 2025, following injuries sustained during a competition at Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida.
Elienisse Zoe Díaz Rodriguez lost control of her Junior Dragster during the Funday Sunday event on February 2, striking a 34-year-old safety guide employee before crashing into a concrete wall. The employee was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Rodriguez was transported to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where she fought for two days before being pronounced brain-dead on February 4. Medical staff worked to stabilize her condition, but she died from her injuries Tuesday evening.
The young racer had just celebrated her seventh birthday on January 30 and was making her first runs in a junior dragster, which she had received as a birthday gift days before the accident. Junior dragsters can reach speeds up to 85 miles per hour.
Rodriguez was a first-grade student at Eastland Christian School in Orlando, Florida. School administrators remembered her as a “bright light in our school community,” adding that “Her beautiful smile will be deeply missed by all of us.” The school has provided counseling services to students and staff following the incident. A special memorial service was held at the school to honor her memory.
Born into a racing family in Tampa, Florida, in 2018, Rodriguez followed in the footsteps of her grandfather and father, both avid drag racers. Her father had named his racing car after his daughter, demonstrating the family’s deep connection to the sport. The family was well-known in Florida’s racing community, and Rodriguez was seen as “a piece of the future” in the sport.
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), which established its junior racing league in 1992, is investigating the crash. The NHRA program allows children ages 5-17 to race half-scale dragsters in controlled environments. The organization requires specific safety equipment and training for all junior racers.
Orlando Speed World Dragway released a statement saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Elienisse’s family and all those affected, including our racing community. Motorsports is built on passion, but moments like these remind us of the risks that come with what we love.”
A GoFundMe page established to support Rodriguez’s family had raised over $32,000 as of Sunday, February 9. The page notes that in driving the junior dragster, Rodriguez had “fulfilled her dream.” The local racing community held a vigil and car meet to honor her memory.
The Florida Highway Patrol has completed its investigation of the incident, and the track is preparing for upcoming racing events. The track management has implemented additional safety measures and thoroughly reviewed all safety protocols following the accident.
Rodriguez will be buried in Orlando. The racing community has organized several memorial events to celebrate her life and passion for the sport.