ASHEBORO Retired Chief District Court Judge Michael Mike Sabiston died Friday in what has been described as a freak accident while he was pursuing his life-long passion of racing.

Sabiston, of Troy, was helping unload a race car at the Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, near Wilson, Friday afternoon when he fell from the transporter and died. He had helped sponsor the car driven by Brandon Ward of Winston-Salem in the Pro All Stars Series.

News about his death spread quickly Friday evening through both the local legal and law enforcement community as well as the racing world.

Barry Bunting, chair of the Randolph County Republican Party, issued a statement asking the community to keep the Sabiston family in its prayers during this difficult time.

We have suffered a tragic loss and he will be missed, Bunting said.

Sabiston retired Sept. 1, 2012, as chief district court judge after 24 years of service to the 19B Judicial District which includes Randolph, Montgomery and Moore counties. He also served as a local assistant district attorney for four years.

But racing had always been a passion for him. As a child, his grandfather took him to races and NASCAR events. During summer breaks from Wake Forest University, hed visit his parents in the Marshall Islands, where his father was serving in the military, and race go-carts on the base. Also, according to a 1989 The Courier-Tribune newspaper account, he raced at Caraway Speedway while an assistant district attorney, coming in 10th in the first race of the season that year.

Last summer, when he announced his retirement, Sabiston said hed continue to serve as an emergency judge, but wanted to travel with his family and spend more time with his grandchildren.

And he wanted an opportunity to pursue his life-long passion of racing. Wards No. 62 car was scheduled to race at Caraway on Sept. 1 last year; he couldnt think of a better way to kick off his retirement, according to another The Courier-Tribune article.

He was known as The Judge, said Gray Warren, of Sophia, a long-time race crew member for several NASCAR teams. He didnt personally know Sabiston and learned about the tragedy from a friend whose son was scheduled to race this weekend at the Kenly track.

Its a tragedy a freakish accident, Warren said. He described the difficult and dangerous task of unloading a race car a task performed at tracks all over the country. Its a part of the game taken for granted. The vehicle is actually at the top of the truck and needs a lift gate to bring it down.

There are lift gates where they roll the car back to unload the car. He was standing to the right rear side of the car and theres nothing to hold onto. The tire ran over his foot and as he probably tried to dislodge it, he lost his balance and fell from 12-plus feet.

Practice on Friday was canceled after the fatal accident and the race track issued the following statement Friday evening:

We at Southern National Motorsports Park are saddened to report a member of our racing family was in a tragic accident this afternoon while working with his team unloading their car. The owners, staff and all racing teams at Southern National would like to send our prayers and our deepest sympathy to his family. Friday practice has been called off and we will be paying tribute to him, his family and team at tomorrow nights race.

Additionally, the United Auto Racing Association (UARA-STARS) issued the following statement Friday:

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the crew and their families of Brandon Ward, 2006 UARA-STARS Champion. His Pro All Stars Series team (New Day Motorsports) lost one of their crew members today after a freak accident at Southern National Motorsports Park. Theyve been hit with a lot of hardships at racetracks over the last few years. Say a few extra prayers for the entire team and their families. Our condolences are with them.

Sabiston, who graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1977 and was a 1982 Wake Forest University School of Law graduate, joined District Attorney Garland Yates staff in September 1988.

He was appointed by then Gov. Jim Martin to replace Judge Richard Toomes of Randleman, who had resigned due to health issues, on March 23, 1992. Sabiston was re-elected to office for five consecutive terms and appointed chief district court judge for District 19B by Supreme Court Chief Judge Sarah Parker on Jan. 1, 2009. He won re-election in November 2010 and decided to retire two years before his term expired, his post being filled by William Hefner. District Court Judge Jayrene Maness was selected to served as chief judge last year when Sabiston retired, leaving other fellow judges Jimmy Hill, Lee Gavin, Scott Etheridge, Rob Wilkins and Don Creed still serving.

At the time he was appointed district court judge he was described as being a weekend race car driver.