Tim Slavens, a small-tire drag racer with an impeccable passion for drag racing, passed away after a bout with COVID-19. He was 52.

Slavens, of Marshfield, Missouri, drove Matt and Anita Zimmerman’s 1969 Camaro, an all-steel-bodied 1969 Camaro, and one of the last holdouts in a Radial vs. the World rapidly evolving into Pro Modified-style chassis.

Two of Slaven’s grandest accomplishments outside of winning back-to-back 10.5 championships locally, scored a Pro 275 victory at the Sweet 16 3.0 event and in 2019, briefly held the world’s quickest Radial vs. The World elapsed time opposite of his Pro Modified-style race car counterparts.

Perhaps the greatest tribute to his tenacity and never-quit attitude was his return to action last year at the Lights Out 12, when his Camaro pulled a massive wheelstand, went airborne, and then came crashing down to the track creating a significant amount of damage. His crew repaired the machine, and he was back in action before the weekend was complete.

Small tire promoter Donald Long was like many in the community and devastated by the passing of Slavens. This is the second high-profile death in the small-tire community since the passing of Blake Copson in March 2021 following a non-racing automobile accident.

“Tim was one of the nicest people you could ever meet,” Long said, voice cracking with emotion. “I feel bad for his family. Stuff like this always seems to happen to the nicest people. He never had anything bad to say about anyone. He just raced and had a good time. He was a great family guy. “

Long paused and offered, “If I were looking for an ambassador for the sport, it would be Tim Slavens. He was that guy, never a troublemaker or one who would beat me up about the rules. Tim just adjusted to whatever the situation was and did it with a no-nonsense approach. He was there to race and had a good time, and he made sure he did both as best he could.

“There’s no doubt this sport has suffered a tremendous loss. But the biggest loss might just be those who never got to know him.”

Ian Tocher, small-tire racing correspondent for CompetitionPlus.com, said Slavens passing is a significant loss for this community.

“He was about as down-to-earth of a person as you could find,” Tocher said. “Even in the face of adversity, he always had that big smile. He was always willing to talk to you, even if something had gone really wrong. Win or lose, Tim was the same approachable person. It’s hard to believe he’s not here.”

Fellow racer Lyle Barnett said Slavens and his crew chief Mark “Tydo” Werdehausen, who first welcomed him back after his devasting 2015 fire.

“My friendship and bond began with them then,” Barnett said. “There wasn’t a time I passed by their pits that they didn’t come out and either fist-bump me or wave. They were just feel-good people. Our sport is filled with good people, but Tim and Mark took it to another level.

“Whether it was after a crash where he went flying through the air or couldn’t get down the track, I never saw Tim Slavens without a smile on his face. He’s one of those great people that we have lost too early.

“Drag racing as a whole was better with Tim Slavens in it.”