Damron appeared to lose control of his motorcycle while battling for the lead at the front of the pack off the start of the first Open Pro semi. He then fell off the right side of his motorcycle near the outside wall, where he was struck by another rider. Damron died of massive head injuries.
Damron was the first fatality since Perris Auto Speedway opened its doors in 1996, and the loss was the second to be experienced by the West Coast Flat Track Series community this year.
“We lost a great friend and a great competitor, who was always there with a big smile on his face,” series founder Gene Romero said. “He was just a great guy. I just pray for him and his family. Rob and people like him are the backbone of this series.”