(1985 file photo)

Former Pro Stock racer Gene Fasching, one of a number of strong Pro Stock competitors to hail from Minnesota, died Dec. 22 after a long battle with cancer.

The Winsted, Minn., driver began his racing career in 1966, then moved to the Modified eliminator ranks and ultimately to Pro Stock in the late 1970s, where he campaigned a variety of Chevrolet cars and won the 1983 Division 3 Pro Stock championship. In 1986, he landed a seat in the second Team Strange Oldsmobile. He retired from the cockpit in 1989.

Sons Ted and Troy followed him into the sport, working as crewmembers on a variety of nitro cars, and 9-year-old grandson Connor, Ted's son, is a championship-winning go-kart racer. The entire family, including son Terry and daughter Yvette, often would accompany their dad to the races.

While Troy was out slinging wrenches for a variety of teams (he is currently employed at Kalitta Motorsports), Ted and Gene worked at their family-run company, Triple T Race Products, which they founded in 1994 in Howard Lake, making headers for drag race cars that are shipped worldwide. They also worked with Troy on numerous race cars. Gene also continued to race go-karts with his family, competing in a 50-plus division at Stockholm Motorsports Park in Cokato, Minn.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnn; children, Ted, Yvette, Terry, and Troy; and 11 grandchildren. Visitation will be Sunday Dec. 27, from 4 to 8 pm at Chilson’s Funeral Home in Winsted, and Mass of Christian Burial will be Dec. 28 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Winsted.

For more information, log on to www.caringbridge.org/visit/genefasching.