Race Car Driver, 17, Kills 14-Year-Old Cousin In Warm-Up Lap: Chase Johnson's Vehicle Crashes Into Race Pit, Killing Teen And Race Car Owner Dale Wondergem

Race car driver Chase Johnson's car careened off a northern California track Saturday, killing two people in pit row, his 14-year old cousin and car owner Dale Wondergem. 

The crash occurred when six sprint cars were doing warm-up laps before the start of a race in Marysville, California.

Officials said that the 17-year-old Johnson's car left the track at an undetermined speed, veered off the track into the pit, where 14-year-old Marcus Johnson and 68-year-old race car owner Dale Wondergem were killed.

Wondergram was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Associated Press. Marcus Johnson died shortly after arrival to the local hospital.

The younger victim was not an official member of his cousin's crew. Investigators are trying to determine why he was in the pit area, Undersheriff Jerry Read said.

Marcus Johnson's father, Rob Johnson, told KPIX-TV that his son was helping out in the pit when "something strange happened and the steering wheel came off ... this car flew probably 100 to 150 feet and hit him."

Chase Johnson is a senior at Petaluma High School north of San Francisco.

"Our family has suffered an unspeakable tragedy with the passing of our precious Marcus Johnson and Dale Wondergem," Don Johnson, the father of Chase and uncle of Marcus said in a statement. "There are no words to express our sorrow. Our family has been racing for four generations and loves the sport that has now brought us so much pain."