This is a page to salute some of the fallen heroes of NASCAR
May they rest in peace.
On Thursday, October 4, 2001, Montoursville, PA native Blaise Alexander was racing in the ARCA-sanctioned 100-miler at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. With four laps to go, Blaise was passing Kerry Earnhardt, and the car got loose and slammed head-on into turn four. Blaise was a former Rookie of the Year champ in ARCA, and also drove occasional Busch Grand National. Blaise entered 6 BGN events in 2001, the most recent being in Dover, the last weekend of September. In the ARCA series, Blaise raced eight events, grabbed seven top tens in those 8 races, and had one win in the July 21st ARCA 200 at the Michigan speedway. The car below was the Busch car he had at the same weekend, where he finished a season-best 11th place. Blaise was only 25 and will be greatly missed.
Blaise Alexander: March 26, 1976-October 4, 2001.
On Sunday, February 18, 2001, on the last turn of the last lap of the Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt got loose and hit the wall head on at approximately 190 MpH. Dale won the 1979 Rookie of the Year title and 7 Winston Cup Championships in 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994. Dale suffered from internal injuries.
A friend of mine, Patrick Mendis wrote this poem, and it sums it up PERFECTLY! Thanx, Pat!
"An Idol Fallen"
On A Sunday in Feburary a life came to an end
At the Daytona 500 we lost a husband, father, son, and friend
We lost him on the years biggest race
From now on in our hearts we have an empty space
People loved him or hated him there was no in between
Now only sadness in the racing world will be seen
The lord has taken him from us and taken him above
The only thing we have is our rememberence and love
For the man who helped shape NASCAR into our favorite Sunday race
A weekly main event with a lot of excitement to set the pace
Now as we try and move on with our own personel life
We have our prayers to offer his children and wife
Dale "The Intimidator" Earnhardt we are full of sadness at your lifes end
We will forever miss you as a husband, a father, a son, our hero, and friend
Dale Earnhardt: April 29, 1951-February 18, 2001.
On Friday, July 7, 2000, Kenny Irwin was practicing his #42 for the Winston Cup race at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, NH. His car hit hard into the 3rd turn wall (Almost the exact same spot that Adam Petty did), flipped onto its roof. Kenny died of internal injuries.
Kenny Irwin: August 5, 1969-July 7, 2000.
On Friday, May 12, 2000, Adam Petty was practicing his #45 for the Busch race at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, NH. His car hit hard into the wall, and died of brain injuries. Adam became the first fourth generation driver to run a Winston Cup race and was planning on running full-time WC in 2001.
Adam Petty: July 10, 1980-May 12, 2000.
On Wednesday, March 25, 1998, Chris Trickle passed away. He was 25. Trickle, a promising stock car driver and the nephew of Winston Cup driver Dick Trickle, was never able to fully come out of the coma caused when he was shot in the head on a Las Vegas Freeway on Feb. 9, 1997. He will truly be remembered. GO #70!!!!!
Chris Trickle: May 30, 1972-March 25, 1998.
In February of 1994, Neil Bonnett was practicing for the Daytona 500. His #51 Country Time Chevy slammed the turn 4 wall. Neil was also a broadcaster for CBS and TNN. Neil will be missed.
Neil Bonnett: July 30, 1946-February 11, 1994
On Tuesday, July 13, 1993, one of NASCAR's fine young drivers died tragically in a helicopter accident. Driver of the legendary #28 Havoline Ford T-bird, Davey Allison. He was the son of legendary NASCAR star, Bobby Allison.
Davey Allison: February 5, 1961-July 13, 1993
On Thursday, April 1, 1993, NASCAR lost a gentleman and a fine, young driver. 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Alan Kulwicki died in a plane crash. He will always be remembered for his legendary "Polish victory lap" that he took after winning his 1st career victory at Phoenix in 1988.
Alan Kulwicki: December 14, 1954-April 1, 1993
Rob Moroso was a young upcoming racer that lost his life in a tragic car accident shortly after his 22nd birthday. Rob had won the 1989 Busch Grand National Series championship and decided to move up to Winston Cup in 1990. In 1990, he competed for Rookie of the Year honors. Moroso picked up only one top 10, which came on July 7, 1990 at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona. Rob Moroso's final statistics for the 1990 season were: 25 out of the 29 races and 30th in the final point standings.
Rob Moroso: September 26, 1968-September 30, 1990
Tim Richmond was a successful racer who lost his life to the AIDS virus. Tim was famous for Hendrick's Folgers Chevy.
Tim Richmond: June 7, 1955-August 13, 1989
Larry Mann at Langhorne, Pennsylvania, on September 14, 1952.
Frank Arford at Langhorne, Pennsylvania, on June 20, 1953.
Lou Figaro at North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, on October 25, 1954.
John McVitty at Langhorne, Pennsylvania, on April 21, 1956.
Clint McHugh at LeHI, Arkansas, in June of 1956.
Thomas Priddy at LeHI, Arkansas, in June of 1956.
Bobby Myers at Darlington, South Carolina, on September 2, 1957.
Joe Weatherly at Riverside, California, on January 19, 1964.
Fireball Roberts at Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 2, 1964 from injuries received in a race at Charlotte on May 24, 1964.
Tab Prince at Daytona Beach, Florida, on February 19, 1970.
Friday Hassler at Daytona Beach, Florida, on February 17, 1972.
Larry Smith at Talladega, Alabama, on August 12, 1973.
Tiny Lund at Talladega, Alabama, on August 17, 1975.
Ricky Knott at Daytona Beach, Florida, in February of 1972.
Terry Schoonover at Atlanta, Georgia, on November 11, 1984.
Grant Adcox at Atlanta, Georgia, on November 19, 1989.
J.D. McDuffie at Watkins Glen, New York, on August 11, 1991.
Tim Flock, of liver and lung caner, on March 31, 1998.
Lee Petty, of complications from an aneurysm near his kidneys and stomach, on April 5, 2000.
RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE.
You are #
to remember these fallen greats!
� 2000 [email protected]
Get your own Free Home Page