Information Provided by Tom Loughlin Jr., Utica
UTICA -- Phil Burkart Sr., a champion drag racer and high performance racing automotive machinist, died Thursday evening at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica.
Burkart is the father of NHRA 3-time funny car champion Phil Burkart Jr. He used to own Burkart Automotive in Yorkville, New York.
Burkart Sr. liked to race at all of the northeast tracks, including ESTA in Cicero, N.Y., Lebanon Valley Dragway in West Lebanon, N.Y. Empire Dragway in Leicester, N.Y., and the New England Dragway.
At this time, details about Burkart Sr.'s death are very limited. We will continue to update this story as we learn more.
