County identifies contractor killed at raceway

A Post Falls contractor killed last Friday in an accident at Spokane County Raceway was identified this morning at Bob L. Arndt, of Post Falls. Arndt, 68, was the owner of Quality Maintenance, a company that specializes in parking lot work, according to a Web site listing. The Spokane County medical examiner performed an autopsy this morning on Arndt and ruled that he died accidentally from multiple fractures and trauma. Arndt was reportedly talking with the track’s general manager when an Infiniti sports car spun out of control, striking him near a curve at the track’s 2 1/2-mile road course. A 46-year-old retired military pilot taking laps in his Infinity G30 struck Arndt at the south end of the track, sheriff’s deputies said last week. The driver’s name had not been released as of this morning. The victim was thrown 15 feet and struck a tree. Services for Arndt are set for Thursday at 1 p.m. at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, with additional services to follow at Evergreen Cemetery. A voice message on his business answering machine acknowledged Arndt’s death and indicated that the company, which began in 1987, was working to resolve the ramifications of his loss. The county purchased the property last year and turned it over to Austin Motor Sports Management, owned by Tacoma businessman Bucky Austin, also the owner of Bucky’s Complete Auto Repair. Arndt was working on track improvements on Friday, and he was talking with track manager Jay Livingston about where to paint lines on the track surface. Meanwhile, about 30 sports car drivers of various ages were at the track running practice laps since 8 a.m. Friday. Some were from out of the area. The raceway’s events calendar indicates the track was leased to Scott Adare Motorsports. According to Adare’s Web site, the company sponsors experienced track drivers who bring their own vehicles to drive on the track one Friday a month. Livingston and Adare did not return telephone calls from reporters.