Report: Xfinity crew chief Nick Harrison's death an accident caused by cocaine, opioids, alcohol
The North Carolina medical examiner’s office has reportedly found that Xfinity Series crew chief Nick Harrison had cocaine, opioids and alcohol in his system when he died on July 21.
Harrison, 37, was the crew chief for Justin Haley’s No. 11 car at Kaulig Racing. Per Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, the medical examiner ruled that Harrison had 0.32 MG/L of oxycodone in his system in addition to cocaine and alcohol, and died as an “accident of acute cocaine, oxycodone and alcohol intoxication.”
Yahoo Sports has filed a request with the medical examiner’s office for the toxicology report. Harrison was found dead the morning after the Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
NC medical examiner rules July 21 death of Nick Harrison as accident of acute cocaine, oxycodone & alcohol intoxication. Landed in NC at 11pm, went to friend’s home, got home 4:30am, found not breathing 6:30am. Toxicology: Cocaine 0.14mg/L, oxycodone 0.32 mg/L, alcohol 0.08% BAC
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 18, 2019
While not listed as a cause of death, the reports indicate Nick Harrison also had an enlarged heart and had a history of sleep apnea. Medical examiner’s office finalized its ruling Saturday, and the reports (autopsy, toxicology, investigation) became public record on Tuesday.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 18, 2019
The combination of substances in Harrison’s system at the time of his death is similar to what medical examiners found after examining the body of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. A toxicology report performed after Skaggs’ July 1 death found that Skaggs died from “alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone intoxication with terminal aspiration of gastric contents.”
Harrison crew-chiefed his first race in the Xfinity Series in 2006. He joined Kaulig Racing from Richard Childress Racing ahead of the 2019 season after spending five seasons at RCR.
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
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