DRIVER Dies in Crash at Barberton

Sunday, August 26th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORTON, Ohio (AP) _ A stock-car driver lost control of his car during a race at Barberton Speedway on Saturday night and died after crashing through billboards at the edge of the track and hitting trees.

Tim Boswell, 35, of Copley, Ohio, died at 7:55 p.m. at Akron General Hospital, a nursing supervisor said.

Driver Kevin Swank said Boswell's car sounded as if its throttle was stuck open.

``The car went down the front stretch at full speed,'' said Swank, who was watching from the pit area. ``I could see smoke coming from the tires. He was on the brake.''

Boswell was a substitute driver for the owner of the car, Swank said.

Speedway officials called off the rest of Saturday's heats at the quarter-mile track. A message seeking comment was left at the speedway's office.

Police in this Akron suburb where the track is located were investigating the crash.