Ernesto Juarez, ‘Mr. Dome Valley Raceway,’ passes away

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) - A well-beloved man in the Yuma community tragically passed away in a car crash.

Ernesto Juarez, better known as "Mr. Dome Valley Raceway," was the former owner and founder of Dome Valley Raceway in Wellton.

Juarez built the Dome Valley Raceway in 1996. Since then, it has carried a legacy, with multiple sand drag racing events.

"To me, my father was everything. He was my everything we did everything together. He was my best friend," Esteban Juarez, Juarez's youngest son, said.

Juarez's main goal was to bring the Yuma community together with an unfamiliar sport. He would go out of his way to put other racers and everyone else first.

"Even when we had this race track and started very young, he would host events for families that were struggling for churches that needed sponsorships and donate all the proceeds to those individuals and that never left him into the day. He’s always been putting everybody first before himself and that’s one of my greatest memories of my father," Art Juarez, Juarez's oldest son said.

Juarez was a healthy man who had big plans ahead of him. Unfortunately, he died in a Phoenix car crash.

Esteban says he was able to spend the day with his dad doing the one thing he loved.

"We were just joking, having a good time. And we went back home for this race car that we're building," Esteban said emotionally.

Even though Ernesto is gone, his name will be carried on in the sport of sand drag racing. 

"His story is going to always live, live on forever and his legacy is going to live on forever. And he's left a dent in the sand drags racing and he’s one of the forefathers of this beautiful sport of sand drags," Art said.

"All we can do now is hold our heads high and move forward and honor him the best we can our last name will always be his," Esteban said.

Funeral services and a celebration of life will be held this weekend.