Friday, May 12, 2000
CONCORD, N.H. - Adam Petty, the fourth-generation driver of NASCAR's first family of racing, died after a crash Friday during practice at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon.
He was rushed to Concord Hospital by ambulance, but died of head trauma at the hospital, said spokeswoman Jennifer Dearborn.
The 19-year-old driver crashed shortly after noon EDT during practice for this afternoon's qualifying in the Busch Grand National series.
Petty is the grandson of seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty and the son of Kyle Petty, a regular on the Winston Cup circuit. Adam's great grandfather was Lee Petty, one of the pioneers of NASCAR.
Adam Petty's entry into racing made the Petty Enterprises team the first with four generations of NASCAR drivers.
It was his second season as a Busch Series regular and he planned to drive in five Winston Cup races this season in preparation for a shot at the rookie title in 2001.
He was 20th last year in the Grand National points race and third in the rookie-of-the-year standings, finishing a career-best fourth in Fontana, Calif., in May.
Petty first got serious notice in racing in September 1998 when he won the ARCA race in Charlotte, N.C. -- becoming, at age 18, the youngest driver to win a race in that series. He also ran the full American Speed Association season that year.
He also is survived by his mother, Pattie, his grandmother, Lynda, and his great-grandmother, Elizabeth.
