BY THOMAS K. BOWLES
8 weeks to the day of Adam Petty's tragic death at New Hampshire International Speedway, it took only one short Winston Cup Practice Session for the track to offer up NASCAR another racing tragedy.
At the end of New Hampshire's treacherous back straight, at the same spot in the same place where Adam went on his fatal ride, Kenny Irwin was piloting his No. 42 BellSouth Chevrolet when something went terribly wrong. That something may not be known for weeks, if at all; many speculated later the throttle may have hung, but in the end it doesn't really matter. What does matter is that Kenny's car went out of control and made violent impact with the Turn 3 wall. The impact was so fierce the car ended up on its side, skidding for awhile with the driver's side on the pavement before flipping on its roof and coming to a halt. 5 minutes later, Irwin was out of the car, cut out by the Jaws of Life, but it was already 5 minutes too late. 3 hours later, the official word came of Irwin's death, and now all of the NASCAR world is left to pick up the pieces.
Understandably, most of NASCAR is still in shock. Irwin, like Adam, was a kind, likable young man by all accounts, and while his NASCAR Winston Cup career had not yet blossomed into superstardom, he was only 30, and had already won NASCAR Rookie-of-the-Year in 1998. Plus. he was about to enter into a new phase of his career, with Chip Ganassi taking control of both the No. 42 and No. 40 cars in 2001. Sure, his career could've died out (Irwin had only one Top 5 in 2000), but it could have just as easily gone in the other direction. The sad reality, of course, is that we will never know.
Probably the best move of the day was made by much maligned Tony Stewart, who declined to speak to the press and politely asked them to leave him alone in his time of grief. While most people remember Stewart and Irwin for their on track confrontation in Martinsville late last year, the two have raced together for years. Both Irwin and Stewart came out of the same USAC Sprint Car Divisions, and off the track had developed a strong friendship. Needless to say, the last thing Stewart needed was to speak to the media; he did, however, offer his private plane to the Irwin family, the first of what im sure will be many acts of kindness Stewart, as well as the rest of NASCAR, will bestow on the Irwins during the difficult times ahead.
The few drivers who were able to speak had pretty much nothing to say; years removed from having to deal with such tragedy in the Winston Cup ranks, most were uncomfortable, shocked, and unprepared for the sudden tragedy that lied before them.
"Nothing prepares you for something like this," said Midwest Transit Driver Ricky Craven. "It's..." He paused. "I'm really sorry."
Others, concerned about the two incidents occurring in the same area at the same track, refused to pass things off as a coincidence, and safety measures were widely discussed. "We lost two fine young men (Irwin and Petty)...we just gotta take a look at...some way to cut these cars off when the throttle hang up on em, and do something 'bout these walls." said three-time champ Darrell Waltrip. Others, like Ward Burton, were more direct at pointing the finger at New Hampshire itself: "Two (deaths), that's a problem," he said frustratingly. "It (Turn 3) needs to be addressed."
So, who's to blame? Why didn't NASCAR initiate safety measures at the speedway after Adam Petty's death to ensure this would never happen again? How could two deaths at the same place on the same racetrack be just a coincidence? I wish I had the answers. But I think that even with NASCAR imposed safety measures it might be premature to suggest they would have saved Kenny Irwin's life, because that car hit the wall with a large amount of force; it was probably the worst crash seen at the Speedway, by most eyewitness accounts. Alas, many new fans of NASCAR are being rudely awakened to the dangers of this sport; others have been reminded this year how dangerous this sport can truly be. Those fans shocked to learn of the second death in NASCAR this year may be even more surprised to learn this is the 8th racing-related death in NASCAR's top three divisions in the last 11 years. And no, that does not include Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki, who died in non-racing incidents (helicopter crashes). Sure, we might be safer than open-wheel racing (MAYBE), but it doesnt matter that NASCAR cars have fenders and doors; people die on our highways in street cars going 55, and every NASCAR track has an area where a driver goes 110 mph or more. No matter how many safety measures you take (and personally, I think NASCAR does a great job) things will happen. Freak accidents happen. And people die every day, many way too soon, like Adam and Kenny - such is the cruelty life can sometimes bring to us. As Richard has said about his grandson, "It was Adam's time." Sadly, today was Kenny's.
So pray tonight for Kenny Irwin and his family, and pray that the tragedy in the NASCAR world finally lifts and lands somewhere else. Because two deaths in 8 weeks is a lot of sorrow to bear.
