Rising auto racing star dies in accidental shooting

Matt Hawkins, an up and coming auto racing star, died Saturday at his home in Ball Ground of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The shooting was accidental, according to Cherokee County Sheriff’s office spokesman, Sgt. Jay Baker.

“He was a showing a gun to some of his friends and the gun discharged,” Baker said.

The bullet from the 9mm pistol struck Hawkins in the head. The 21-year-old was taken to Northside Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Baker said detectives do not suspect foul play.

Hawkins was a competitive driver going back to his childhood. He got his start as a competitive go-kart driver when he was 4, according to a short biography posted on www.matthawkins.net.

As an adult, Hawkins won in his first start in the Hooters Pro Cup in March 2007. Hawkins repeated the same feat in the ARCA Re/Max Series in April 2008.