An American auto racer died after crashing on a track in Bowmanville, Ont., on Saturday afternoon.

The driver was identified by race organizers as Jeffrey Green, 61, of Peoria, Ill.

According to Durham Region police, the driver collided with a wall after losing control around a corner and leaving the track. He was participating in the VARAC (Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada) Vintage Grand Prix on Saturday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jeffrey Green,” said Myles Brandt, president and general manager of the park, in a news release Sunday. “We offer our deepest condolences and prayers to his family, friends and fellow competitors.”

A police news release said safety staff at the track including a doctor treated the driver. He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The news release also said the driver’s car, a 1972 Lola T300, passed a safety inspection before the race. The car was in a class of racing car popular in the 1970s and used by racing legends like Mario Andretti.

Ten years ago, another racer, Dino Crescentini of Michigan, also died while racing in the VARAC festival on June 22, 2008. Crescentini was driving a 1977 Wolf Dallara Can-Am when he crashed.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the victim in Saturday’s crash as NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Jeff Green. That is a different Jeff Green. The earlier version also misstated the driver’s age as 55.

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