Former Division 5 Top Alcohol Dragster champion Tim Baxter, famous for his line of Jayhawker race cars, died Jan. 31 after a battle with cancer. He was 56.

Baxter, who won three consecutive division Top Alcohol Dragster championships (1989-91), was a force in the class in the late 1980s, racking up 14 divisional wins. He was Division 5’s rep in the JEGS Allstars race five times (1987, 1989-92) and won the event in 1987, the same year that he set the national record.

Baxter traveled with his father Don’s Top Fuel dragster, also known as the Jayhawker, from 1976 to 1982 before taking the driver's seat in Top Alcohol Dragster. Baxter competed on a regular basis through the mid-1990s and made a short comeback in the early 2000s before retiring from driving in 2001.

Baxter's outings always featured a significant family presence with his brother, Bob, serving as crew chief and his parents giving support. He also gave an early opportunity to friend Rob Wendland, who now serves as crew chief on the Service Central Funny Car driven by Johnny Gray.

NHRA Division 5 Director Rob Park called him “truly one of the best guys in drag racing you will ever meet.”

Survivors include his parents, Don and Norma Baxter; daughters, Lindsay  and Lacey Baxter; brother, Robert A. "Bob" Baxter; and sister, Dawn Kristine "Kris" Wilson.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, at 4 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene south of Lawrence, Kan. A reception will follow the service at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1470 N. 1000 Road, Lawrence, KS 66046. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Tim Baxter Memorial Fund, care of Douglas County Bank or Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com.