JAYSKI's SILLY SEASON SITE
ADAM PETTY Tribute Page
from the Petty Racing Site
Thanks to SugerFreeRacing for the image, I took this off an image of the #99 ARCA car hood
NOTE: According to the pettyracing.com site, the stickers in memory of Adam are not for public sale and they have asked people do not write them or ask other teams for them
News and Links on the loss of Adam Petty
NOTE many of these links will no longr work as they are years old
images added were found throughout the net
Please note that all memorials for ADAM Petty should be sent to:
- All-American 400 honors Adam Petty: Motorplex Season Finale Pays Tribute to NASCAR’s First Family The All-American 400 has always been a great race. Now it’s a great race for a great cause. Music City Motorplex president Joe Mattioli has designated the 25th annual race, Nov. 2-4, the Adam Petty Memorial All-American 400. The event will pay tribute to Adam, who lost his life in May of 2000 at age 19 in a crash at New Hampshire Speedway. The race also will promote the Victory Junction Gang Camp which Adam’s
family established in his memory. The camp is free and available to youngsters who are battling life-threatening ailments. “We are honored that the Motorplex is doing this for Adam,” said Patti Petty, Adam’s mother. “He loved to race at Nashville and we loved to watch him race there. He grew up watching both his dad and granddad race there. The Petty family has a lot of cherished memories of Nashville.” Lee Petty, Adam’s great-grandfather, raced at the historical Fairgrounds track during its early years, and was followed by fan favorite Richard. Adam’s dad, Kyle, also logged laps around the famed five-eights-mile oval. Adam had been in Nashville for a Busch race at the Superspeedway in Gladeville, TN a month before his fatal crash. Talented, bright and charismatic, Adam was being groomed to carry on the legacy of NASCAR’s First Family when tragedy severed the racing lineage. Since his loss, the racing community has rallied around the Victory Junction Gang Camp, with NASCAR and many of its top drivers making contributions. The Adam Petty Memorial All-American 400 promises to provide a dramatic finish to what has been a successful 49th season at the Motorplex. Started in 1981 by the late Bob Harmon, the race quickly gained a national reputation as the “Super Bowl of Short-Track Racing.” For race information or tickets call (615) 726-1818 or visit MusicMityMotorplex.com.(PR)(11-1-2007)
- Kyle all black: #45-Kyle Petty will have his all black #45 Dodge at New Hampshire, a schemes he has run at the track since his son Adam was killed at NHIS back in 2000 in a Busch Series practice wreck.(7-20-2003)
- #45 in black at NHIS: #45-Kyle Petty will show up at New Hampshire International Speedway with a special paint scheme. ''Every time we run at Loudon, we run a black car,'' he said. ''The Sprint people were supportive and allowed us to do it last year, so we run a solid black car up there. It's not a diecast deal. It's nothing like that. It's a personal deal for me.'' So when his #45 Dodge takes the track at NHIS, will it be solid black again? ''Yeah,'' Petty said, somberly. ''Always.'' [as a tribute to his son Adam who lost his life in a BGN accident there in May 2000](Boston Globe)(7-14-2002)
- Thanks TNT for the silent 3rd, 42nd and 45 laps at New Hampshire in memory of Dale Earnhardt(#3), Kenny Irwin Jr(#42) and Adam Petty(#45)
- Austin Petty UPDATE: been asked often about Kyle Petty's son Austin and his plans for racing, never had much of an answer, her is a good column about Austin and his future plans: Another Petty working to step up by Jim Utter of That's Racin'(7-13-2001)
UPDATE: looks like the AP picked up on the story, see CNN/SI for the story with an image: In the blood - Petty teenager considering continuing family tradition - His friends call him "Road Rash" because of the numerous scrapes on his body from a recent spill on his motorcycle. But to everyone else, he's "another Petty," viewed as the next in line to continue the family business.(7-19-2001)
- Good Guy - Kyle Petty: Since 1999, the Sporting News 'rates' the sports top 'Good Guy's', athletes who are helping their communities, Kyle Petty was chosen as NASCAR's top 'Good Guy', others include: Jeff Gordon. Jeff Burton, Ricky Craven, Jimmy Spencer, Terry Labonte and Rusty Wallace. See full stories at: #1 NASCAR Good Guy - Kyle Petty from the Sporting News(7-15-2001)
- ESPN: NHIS owners stood by Petty by Jack Arute(7-22-2001)
- That's Racin': Irwin, Adam Petty still on many minds by David Poole(7-22-2001)
- News and Observer: Petty's moving tribute to son by Rupen Fofaria(7-21-2001)
- Kyle at New Hampshire? UPDATE 5 Will Race: Kyle Petty has not decided if he or the #45 Sprint team will race at the New Hampshire race on July 22nd(CNN/SI-NASCAR Plus TV Show)(6-25-2001)
UPDATE: Winston Cup driver Kyle Petty, whose oldest son, Adam, was killed in a Grand National series practice session wreck last May at New Hampshire International Speedway, remains unsure whether he will compete in the Winston Cup race at the track next weekend. Tuesday would have been Adam's 21st birthday. Petty skipped both Winston Cup races at the track last season. "Right now I'm considering Chicago, and when I'm done with Chicago I'll see about next week. This week has been a hard week because of Adam's birthday. ... There have been so many things this week that have brought back so many memories," Petty said. "I couldn't bring myself to go back last year and it's kind of crept up on me this year. I'll wait until the first of the week to see where I'm at. Everybody at Petty Enterprises, they know what my position is. They stand behind the whole program."(That's Racin')(7-13-2001)
UPDATE: Kyle Petty says he'll announce a decision in a few days on if he'll compete at New Hampshire International Speedway next weekend for the first time since his son, Adam, died in a crash there May 12, 2000. Petty said that the team's crew members also have the option of not going. If Petty does not, Steve Grissom will drive for him. Grissom is the team's test driver and also works as an adviser for Carlos Contreras, who drives for the Petty Enterprises truck series team. The trucks also will race at New Hampshire next weekend, so Grissom already was scheduled to be there(RacingExtra)(7-14-2001)
UPDATE 2: CNN/SI's NASCAR Plus reported tonight that Kyle Petty will run at New Hampshire in a black car with some Sprint decals and the #45 on the car. None of Kyle's family will be at the track(7-16-2001)
UPDATE 3: sources tell me that contrary to the CNN/SI report, Petty has not made up his mind regarding New Hampshire. As of this morning, he just was not sure. He said it could be as late as Friday morning before he makes a decision(7-17-2001)
UPDATE 4: FSN's Totally NASCAR show on Thurs reports that Kyle Petty is expected ro run at NHIS with Steve Grissom standing by(7-19-2001)
UPDATE 5: A Statement From Kyle Petty: This is going to be a pretty tough week for our family, the 45 team and for everyone at Petty Enterprises. We.re anxious to race and we.re anxious to do well but we are in New Hampshire with mixed emotions. Bob and Gary Bahre are the greatest people in the world. We feel as badly for them as we do anyone. The fans in New England are fantastic and are some of our favorite people. It.s hard to find better and more dedicated fans anywhere. The Bahres and the fans up here are a large part of the reason we.re racing this weekend. But we have one more very big reason. Adam would want me and the 45 team to come here and race. As a tribute to Adam, we've repainted his race car. We wanted to do something special. We wanted an on-track memorial to him and to those who love him. This isn't a Sprint car or a Petty Enterprises car or anything like that. For this weekend, this is an Adam car. I want this car to speak for itself. Adam's car and this statement will be all we have to say this weekend. Pattie and I, my mother and father, our entire family and the members of the 45 team would just rather not do any interviews at all this weekend, and we appreciate the media.s understanding. The guys at the #43 and #44 have said they would be glad to talk about their race cars but they, too, want to join us in honoring Adam by letting the race car speak for itself. I love Adam, we all love Adam, and miss him terribly. Thank you for letting us come back to New Hampshire with such an understanding and loving manner.(Williams Company PR)(7-20-2001)
- Irwin/Earnhardt/Petty Tribute: NHIS will hold a race-day tribute to the late seven-time champion, Dale Earnhardt. Details are still being worked out and are expected to be announced tomorrow(Union Leader), no word on if they will have a tribute for Kenny Irwin(7-18-2001)
UPDATE: According to NHIS owner Bob Bahre, track officials are planning a ceremony to honor Dale Earnhardt, Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin Jr. prior to Sunday’s New England 300. Earnhardt, also known as The Intimidator, was one of NASCAR’s best-known drivers. With his trademark black racing suit and aggressive style of driving, Earnhardt quickly gained the respect of his NASCAR peers. The 49-year-old Earnhardt was killed during the Daytona 500 in February, when his No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo hit the wall on the final lap of the race. Earnhardt won a record seven Winston Cup points titles and hd 76 career victories. Petty was killed last May when his car barreled into the wall in Turn 3 at NHIS. Irwin was killed two months later when his car hit the same wall at NHIS, near the spot where Petty’s car hit. Race officials blamed stuck throttles for both incidents. "We’ve got a lot of respect for Dale and the other two kids," Bahre said. "We couldn’t have a ceremony for Dale and not the other two. That just wouldn’t be right." The ceremony, which will be performed prior to the race on Sunday, will include a prayer from Bishop Michael Cody of Portland, Maine. Along with the prayer service will be Winston Cup’s season-long ritual of having complete radio silence during Lap 3 in memory of Earnhardt. While race fans and drivers alike will remember Earnhardt for his intimidating character, Bahre said he always will remember a softer side of The Intimidator, one that included regular visits to him and his son, Gary, when the Winston Cup Series was in town. While the death of Earnhardt was a shock for Bahre, the NHIS owner was taken aback this week by the reaction of several Winston Cup drivers following Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s victory at Daytona in the Pepsi 400. Following the race, several drivers voiced concerns that Winston Cup officials and other drivers, specifically Michael Waltrip, fixed the race to let Earnhardt Jr. win. "Earnhardt Jr. has been running strong since February," Bahre said. "What’s wrong with these people? If he had the best car, he deserved to win the race."(Fosters Daily Democrat)(7-19-2001)
- Las Vegas Review Journal: Kenny Irwin, Adam Petty also deserve tributes by Jeff Wolf(7-20-2001)
- Pocono to Honor Adam? UPDATE yes: hearing Pocono Raceway will be dedicating the Winston Cup garage area to Adam Petty on the Friday before the June 17th Cup race and will be known as the Adam Petty Garage(6-8-2001)
UPDATE: Pocono will name its state-of-the-art garage area after Adam Petty. "I went over to see Kyle in his motor home, about a month after it happened," Dr. Joseph Mattioli of Pocono Raceway said. "I told him we would like to name the garage area after his son. I said, 'Now you talk to your wife and your father and your mother and whatever you guys want to do. If you don't want to do it, we won't do it. They called back later and said they would be thrilled to have it. It's now the Adam Petty garage. We don't make a big to-do about it. We don't put press releases out on it. It's just something we wanted to do."(Citizens Voice)(6-14-2001)
- Petty to be Remembered: Hearing some folks and the AdamPetty.com are planing to do somehting to remember him on May 12th. They are plaing to set free red and black balloons on this day. Their are plans are talk to NASCAR and other sites to get the word out. Folks who would like info can email Tracey4000@tarheelblue.com (3-29-2001)
- Petty to Honored: The late Adam Petty will be remembered by fellow NASCAR drivers Lyndon Amick and Ken Schrader in Wednesday night's ARCA race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The #99 ARCA entry, owned by Schrader and driven by Amick, will carry special decals in memory of Petty, the 19 year-old driver who lost his life in a racing accident in May at New Hampshire International Speedway. Amick says the tribute is meant to not only honor Petty's memory, but also to commemorate Petty winning in his very first ARCA start, which came at Lowe's Motor Speedway just over two years ago(That's Racin')(10-2-2000)
- Petty Enterprises News UPDATE: On Tuesday, July 18th, there will be a press conference detailing Sprint's 2000-2001 sponsorship plans with Petty Enterprises (#'s 43 Cheerios and #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac in Cup; #45 Sprint Chevy in BGN; and #43 Dodge Truck). The announcement will take place at Lowes Motor Speedway at 11:00am/et.(7-16-2000)
UPDATE: big news! Starting with the Sept. 3 Pepsi Southern 500 at Darlington, Kyle Petty, will run only the #45 Sprint Chevy in the BGN series. Steve Grissom, who drives the #43 Dodge Truck for Petty in the CTS series, will drive the #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac in the Winston Cup series. For 2001, Kyle Petty will drive the #45 Sprint Dodge in the Winston Cup series. Petty plans to run the #44 Cup team, but will need to find a driver and new sponsor as Hot Wheels will not return in a mutual decision. There are no plans to continue the Petty BGN team, but if Petty Enterprises in unable to land a sponsor for the #44, Petty said the organization could return to the series(Petty Racing Site)(7-18-2000)
- Adam Petty's Crash: NASCAR officials found no sign of mechanical failure in the car Adam Petty was driving when he crashed and was killed in May at New Hampshire. Petty crashed into the turn-four wall at full speed. Crew chiefs said his throttle may have stuck, but NASCAR's Mike Helton said there was no evidence to support that theory(Boston Globe/AP)(7-2-2000)
- Petty Crew Chief/BGN Team News UPDATE: a story in this weeks Winston Cup Scene reports that one of the people Kyle Petty has talked with to replace former crew chief Bobby Leslie was his former crew chief Bobby Kennedy. Kennedy is presently with the #7 Ultra Mattei Motorsports team and driver Michael Waltrip. Kennedy says no decision has been made concerning his talk with Petty. Also as for the Petty #45 BGN team, they will skip Watkins Glen and probably Pikes Peak, but would compete in the remaining races with Kyle as the driver. Plans are unknown past the 2000 season, but Petty thinks they need four teams, the two Cup teams for Petty and Andretti, the CTS team with Steve Grissom and the BGN team, but if the BGN team stays in that series or moves to the Cup or CTS series remains to be seen at this point(6-23-2000)
Next week, Petty will drive his Cup car at Daytona on Saturday. The BGN races at Milwaukee on Sunday. Petty will have someone qualify for him, then race at Milwaukee. The only other problem in the schedule comes July 23 when the Cup series races in Pocono and the BGN series is at Pikes Peak, CO, the day before. After that, the two series race in the same cities(Roanoke Times). NOTE: Petty says in the WC Scene that the team would possibly skip Pikes Peak(6-24-2000)
- Petty PR UPDATE Kyle Speaks: Kyle Petty will address the media Friday, June 2, from 8:15 to 8:30am/et in the media center at the Dover Downs International Speedway. This will be the only time during the weekend that Petty will be available to the media. Petty is scheduled to drive the #45 Sprint Chevy in the June 3 NASCAR Busch Series race at Dover Downs International Speedway. He is also scheduled to return to the seat of the #44 Hot Wheels Racing Pontiac for the Winston Cup race on June 4. The Busch Series team has not competed since the tragic death of Adam Petty in New Hampshire on May 12. No determination has been made regarding plans for the #45 Sprint Chevy beyond Dover(Williams Co PR)(5-31-2000)
UPDATE - Kyle Speaks: SpeedVision: Petty Returns to Racing by Ben Blake - Petty talks about Adam, the team and the future. Some notes from the story: Petty's voice broke occasionally during his 15-minute conversation with the press and media, but for the most part his answers were steady and his mind clear. He began by describing how he and his family received the news. Petty said it never occurred to him to quit racing or close down the team.
Some Kyle racing notes: For the Cup race Kyle is scheduled to qualify 24th of 45 drivers. In AM practice Kyle was 33rd with a speed of 154.566mph. For the BGN in Adam's #45 car Kyle is scheduled to qualify 29th of 48 drivers. In the AM BGN practice Kyle was 26th fastest with a speed of 153.022mph. In the 2nd Cup practice, Kyle moved up to 13th fastest with a speed of 156.277mph.(6-2-2000)
- Kyle to Drive? UPDATE Yes and The King Speaks: hearing that Kyle Petty will be driving the #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac in the Winston Cup race next week at Dover
UPDATE: Richard Petty spoke to the media today, one subject was Kyle: Kyle Petty, Richard's son and Adam's father, is taking some time off this week as he continues to work through his grieving process. Kyle will return to driving in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series next week in Dover, Del., his father said.(NOL)(5-24-2000)
UPDATE 2: There’s the possibility that Kyle Petty will drive the #45 Busch Grand National car as well, but that decision will be based on sponsorship and Richard Petty says he “seriously doubts” it will happen(Times Dispatch)
UPDATE 3: Petty Enterprises and sponsor Sprint announced Thursday that Kyle Petty will drive the #45 Sprint car in the Busch Series race at Dover next week(SpeedVision)(5-25-2000)
- TV Guide: TV Guide will honor Adam Petty by putting the late NASCAR driver on the magazine's cover next week in selected areas of the country. The Petty cover will be available, starting Monday, in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, along with areas in Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky(Roanoke Times) I hear some other aresa also have the cover, check your local stores(5-21-2000)
- Petty News: Petty Enterprises' Grand National team, which fielded the #45 car Adam Petty drove, will not compete in next week's BGN Carquest 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. NASCAR officials have confirmed that the Petty car is not entered in next week's race. Petty Enterprises has not made any decisions about when Adam's father, Kyle, will return to Winston Cup racing and whether or not anybody will drive the Grand National car again this season. The elder Petty is not driving either this week of next. He will be replaced in the Coca-Cola 600 by Steve Grissom, who drives for Petty Enterprises on the NASCAR truck circuit(AP)(5-21-2000)
- Petty Honor: To honor the memory of Adam Petty, killed in a practice-session crash last Friday at NHIS, Lowe's Motor Speedway officials have placed a 4-foot by 6-foot flag in Victory Lane at the speedway. The flag is embroidered with the words, "In Memory of Adam Petty #45 1980-2000." The flag will fly over Victory Lane for the next two weekends. Victory Lane celebrations for The Winston and next Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 will be conducted on the frontstretch and the speedway's Victory Lane will remain empty for those two races in honor of Petty(That's Racin')(5-19-2000)
- Petty Statement and News: The Petty family released the following statement: "On behalf of Kyle, Pattie, Austin, Montgomery Lee, and everyone in the Petty family, we are truly grateful for the outpouring of support, prayers and love we have received over the past few days. This is a very difficult time for all of us but we so appreciate the way our friends and fans from all over the world have expressed their love for
Adam. We thank each and every one of you."(Williams Company) ....AND....
From NASCAR Online: Steve Grissom will replace Kyle Petty in the #44 Hot Wheels Pontiac for the Coca Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The naming of Grissom, who drives for Petty Enterprises in the CTS, was a follow-up to the withdrawal of the #44 entry from this weekend's running of The Winston Open.(NOL)(5-18-2000)
- Petty to be Honored UPDATE: The life of Adam Petty will be celebrated by fellow NASCAR drivers Lyndon Amick and Ken Schrader at Saturday's ARCA race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The #99 ARCA entry, owned by Schrader and driven by Amick, will carry special decals honoring Petty, the fourth-generation driver who lost his life last week in a racing accident. Amick, who competed with Petty for the past two seasons in the BGN says the tribute is a way to honor the memory of a special friend who touched the lives of everyone he came in contact with. The decal that will adorn the hood of the #99 is a larger version of the one that BGN competitors carried on their cars at NHIS last Saturday. It features Petty's name and the No. 45 logo against a "Petty Blue" background, next to a checkered flag flying at half-mast. Below the flag are the dates, 1980-2000. The design is almost identical to the decal produced to honor the life of Petty family patriarch, Lee Petty, who passed away just 44 days before the death of his great grandson. In addition to honoring the young driver, the tribute will raise funds to benefit children in need. In association with the Winston Cup Racing Wives Auxiliary, a special toll-free number (1-888-44-PETTY) will be displayed on the quarter panels and the rear of the car. Fans and friends who wish to make charitable donations in Adam's memory may do so by calling this number.(Mach One PR)(5-18-2000)
- Petty's Throttle: from a story at SpeedVision: How Can a Throttle Stick? by Bill King: Mark Martin talks about how a throttle hangs open and what can and cannot be done by a driver in that situation. Also noted is: According to the #45 Petty Enterprises crew, the throttle was not stuck on the racecar after the accident. Benny Parson's noted this on Monday's RPM 2Night show on EPSN2 and showed on the Cup car they have in a studio how a throttle can hang open(5-17-2000)
- Adam Petty Service: More than a thousand friends, relatives and members of the stock-car racing fraternity on Monday wept, prayed and mourned the loss of 19-year-old Adam Petty, the rising star in NASCAR's most famous family. Kyle and Patti Petty held hands and sobbed quietly as the Petty family pastor, Douglas Carty, read recollections from them, Richard and Lynda Petty, Adam's 18-year-old brother Austin, sister Montgomery Lee, and others. See full AP story at the CNN/SI site: Emotional goodbye - Adam Petty eulogized as 'great friend and brother'. Amoung the those who attended were Bobby Allison, Ward Burton, Bill Elliott, Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, David Green and Bobby and Terry Labonte(5-15-2000)
- Atlanta Mourns: The flags at Atlanta Motor Speedway have flown at half-staff since Friday, May 12, in memory of young race car driver Adam Petty, who lost his life in a practice crash at New Hampshire. Petty competed in the last two Busch Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, finishing 25th and 34th, but he will be remembered
most for his enthusiasm and willingness to help out. Petty gladly became involved in promoting the races for Atlanta Motor Speedway, appearing on several television and radio shows. The family’s history with the Speedway extends well before Adam, though. Richard Petty, Adam Petty’s grandfather, is third on the track’s all-time win list with six. He also ran the final race of his brilliant career in Atlanta at the end of the 1992 season. In honor of Richard Petty and what he has meant to NASCAR racing, Atlanta Motor Speedway created the Richard Petty Garden, which is adjacent to the gift store. A seating grandstand was also named for Petty, who was known as “The King.” “The Petty family has been much of the reason for America’s fascination with NASCAR racing,” said Ed Clark, president of Atlanta Motor Speedway. “Tough as nails on the track, yet warm, caring and fun off the track, the Pettys represent much of what is good about America. We all share their grief in this difficult time.”(AMS PR)(5-17-2000)
- NASCAR Inside Winston Cup: on SpeedVision - host Allen Bestwick and this week's expert panel(Johnny Benson, Ken Schrader and Phil Parsons) came directly from services for Adam Petty in High Point, N.C. The memorial was delivered by Adam's little sister, Montgomery Lee Petty. Afterwards, family and friends were invited over to Kyle and Patti Petty's farm for food and fellowship. (5-15-2000)
- Hot Wheels: In December, the Kentucky Hot Wheels Association will be donating all of their 2000 Die Cast Drive stock to the US Marine Corp Toys for Tots program in honor of Adam Petty(5-15-2000)
- The Arrangements: The service celebrating the life of Adam Petty will be held at 11:00am/et, Monday, May 15, at High Point University in High Point, NC. The Petty family has requested a private ceremony for family and close friends in the NASCAR community due to space limitations(Williams Company)(5-13-2000)
- Adam Petty Dies in Crash at NHIS: Adam Petty was airlifted to Concord Hospital after crashing Friday during practice at NHIS for the BGN race there. Last report has Petty in the emergency room, but there is no immediate word on whether his injuries were life-threatening(CNN/SI a 2:15pm/et report) ESPN2 is reporting on the Botton Line crawl that Petty was taken to the hospital with head injuries(2:40pm/et) -- from SpeedVision: According to eyewitness reports, Petty crashed heavily head-on going into Turn 3. The # 45 Sprint Chevrolet briefly caught fire, and emergency crews had to cut the frame of the car to remove him. Petty was transported by ambulance to the helicopter paid outside the track, and then airlifted to Concord Hospital. The car was covered and removed from the premises. The team is reportedly readying a backup car.
update: Busch Series driver Adam Petty died of head trauma after crashing heavily in practice at New Hampshire International Speedway. He was prounounced dead after being airlifted to Concord Hospital.(SpeedVision 3:15pm/et). Condolences to the Petty fans, friends and fans(5-12-2000)
UPDATE 2: There will not be a statement from the Petty family or Petty Enterprises today(Friday). Kyle Petty is out of the country on a personal trip(England on vacation). The family is gathering in a private setting, and no interviews will be scheduled at this point with family members or team members. Funeral arrangements are incomplete but will be released as soon as available(Williams Co PR)(5-12-2000)
- Messages of Condolence: the Petty Racing site has an email address set up at their site to send condolences to the Petty family, find the address at: www.pettyracing.com(5-12-2000)
(NOTE: many of these links DO NOT WORK anymore
I left them up as a tribute to how many things were written at the time of Adam's death(
- DaytonaUSA: has a couple of sympathy signing boards set up in its lobby that will be sent next week to Kyle and Patti Petty, whose son, Adam, died in a crash last week. The boards will be available to the public through Friday.(Speed Magazine)(5-17-2000)
- News and Record: Adam Petty: Racing Through Generations - Photo's by Tom Copeland(need quicktime)
- USA Today: Adam Petty Page
- check out Rappy's ScreenSavers for a Adam Petty screen saver he made
- Daily Press: Petty speaks of grandson's death, future of his team by Al Pearce
May 25th
- SpeedVision: Richard Petty Meets the Press by Bill King
- St Petersburg Times: Pressure of a family legacy and Richard Petty returns to track by Kevin Kelly
- TachZone: Petty Enterprises to go on by Ryan Seek
- Tennessean: Adam Petty's death could spell end of dynasty by Larry Woody
- That's Racin': Q&A With Richard Petty, as Petty talks about his grandson, his family and racing; and Richard Petty returns to the track by Tom Sorensen
- TNN Motorsports: Life Goes On, So Does Racing Q&A with Richard Petty
May 22nd
- RacinDeals: Life's Too Short by Glen Harness
May 20th
- Racin' with Russ: Petty’s Mourn as Tracks Review Safety Concerns by Russell Schmidt
- Tennessean: Chaplains help family, fans cope with Petty death by Bethany Bradsher via the NY Times
May 19th
Hartford Courant One Theory: Stuck Throttle/Notes by Shawn Courchesne
- Anniston Star: Petty-a-thon cheap way to make a buck by Phillip Tudor
- ESPN: It's hard to understand 'why' sometimes by Larry McReynolds
- Fox Sports: Sorely missed(Adam Petty) by Tony Stewart
May 18th
- Maine Today: Cause for celebrating Petty's life by Bob Paulin
- Moto 1: You can tell a lot about a fan, by which Petty he talks about by Mike Joy
- Speedway Scene: Adam Petty by John Bisci
May 17th
- CNN/SI: Remembering Adam - Petty's passing makes it difficult to think about racing by Jeremy Mayfield
- ESPN: One ride Petty never got to take by Phil Furr
- RaceComm:
The Electronic Hearth by Matt McLaughlin
The Loss of Adam by Lori Hughes
It Doesn't Stop Hurting by Mike Daly
- Speed Magazine: Recent deaths dismay Martin by Godwin Kelly; and Sprint phone book to honor Adam Petty
- SportsPedia: In Memory of Adam Petty - A Reason for Hope by Brad Winters(link fixed)
May 16th
- About.com: Adam Petty: NASCAR Mourns It's Future by Steve McCormick
- Fox Sports: Taken before his time by Monte Dutton
- Kingsport Times-News: Rituals of parenthood shouldn’t be taken for granted by Kenny Bruce
- Race Views: The Nascar Family and An Article By An Idiot by M.L. Morgan
- Racing Press: Respect the risksby H. B. Elkins
- Speed Magazine: Adam's future always belonged at the race track by Lydia Hinshaw
- St Petersburg Times: Day of grief for racing community by Damian Cristodero
- That's Racin': Memorial service celebrates Adam Petty's life by David Poole
May 15th
- NASCAR Online: Commentary: Adam Petty leaves mark by Marty Smith
- Tachzone: A Shining Star by Lori Tyler
- That's Racin': Joy, sorrow share day in NASCAR by Scott Fowler
May 14th
- Naples News: Not all drivers can beat the odds by Tom Rife
- Alabama Live: Sharing the heartache - Bobby Allison understands Petty family's loss, grief by Neal Sims
- Dallas Morning News: Tony Fabrizio's motor sports column - Racing fans bleed with each tragedy
- Orlando Sentinel: Pettys secluded as fans grieve by Ed Hinton
- SpeedFX: For Adam by Cindy Bailey
- Speed Magazine: Petty's death hurts so many ways by Godwin Kelly
- Tachzone: The Eve of Adam by Ryan Seek
- Tennessean: Fans create memorial at Petty home and Race starts healing process by the AP; and Parents say racing still safe as possible by Larry Woody
May 13th
- CBS Sportsline: Youngest Petty fit true meaning of his family's legacy by Richard Biebrich; The first family of NASCAR by Adam Petty
- CNN/SI: Hitting too close to home - Petty's death brings back memories of John Nemechek by John Donovan; A big smile, a hearty laugh; he's only 19, remember by Joseph H. Oberkrieser
- Des Moines Register: Adam Petty would have been huge by Jeff Olson
- ESPN column by Bill Weber: Petty's death goes beyond the track and an AP columns at: Grief evident in Petty's hometown by Estes Thompson and Petty family goes from glory to tragedy by Mike Harris
- FoxSportsUnrealized potential - A look back at Adam Petty's career by Marc Landas
- Las Vegas Review Journal: Las Vegas racer: Death is part of the game by Jeff Wolf
- Myrtle Beach Sun News: Death still on NASCAR's passenger side by Terry Massey
- NASCAR Online: NASCAR reacts to Petty's passing, including Bill France; and Adam Petty: By the numbers; and Grissom: 'Difficult day for all of us' by Brett Borden
- RacingPress: The show must go on by Don Stone
- SpeedFX: The Dark Side of the Carnival by Matt McLaughlin; and In Memory of Adam Kyler Petty by Karen Van Allen
- Speed Magazine: Thunder silenced: Petty's death shocks racing community by Godwin Kelly
- SpeedVision: Adam Petty, 1980-2000
- Speedway Scene: Race Family Rocked by John Bisci
- Suite 101 - NASCAR Race Reviews: Some Weeks We All Lose by Dennis Michelsen
- Tennessean: Fatal crash robs Pettys, fans of joy Adam brought to track by Larry Woody
- That's Racin': You rarely saw Adam Petty without that smile by David Poole; and A map illustrating accident scene
- That's Racin' has an archive of Adam's stories: Adam Petty: Archive of coverage. Also an AP story: Petty is NASCAR's first on-track fatality since John Nemechek died by Rebecca Mahoney
- Team Gordon co-owner of the #13 Ford, Mike Held shares his thoughts on the The Gripping Reality of Auto Racing - Team Gordon site
- Site Visitors: The Petty Racing website - www.pettyracing.com - set up a special email address to receive condolences via email from fans. As of 12:30 p.m. (EDT), Saturday, May 13, the site had received more than 6,000 emails from throughout the United States, as well as from England and Japan. The email availability - adamcondolences@cybertrack.com - became available at 6 p.m. (EDT) Friday, May 12. According to web master Robert McCarty, they have received up to 100 emails in several individual five-minute periods(Williams Company)(5-13-2000) -- now well over 12,000 email have been received(5-15-2000) -- up to 15,500 as of mid-day today(5-16-2000)
- RPM 2Night on ESPN2 was an exceptional and moving show tonight with John kernan, Matt Yocum, Bill Weber and Benny Parsons. The show had a nice tribute to Adam Petty, a past interniew with Bill Weber and many thoughts of the drivers at NHIS(5-12-2000)
- Some Reactions to the loss of Adam Petty: MICHAEL KRANEFUSS, OWNER, #12 MOBIL 1 TAURUS: "What a tremendous tragedy. Anytime there is a loss of life, it is tragic but to lose someone with the youth and vigor of Adam Petty cuts especially deep. It goes further than what his family has meant to motorsports. He was truly a special, special person and one of the bright lights of our sport and our society. He will be missed."
JEREMY MAYFIELD, DRIVER, #12 MOBIL 1 TAURUS: "This was a real shock. Adam Petty was just a really good guy. He
loved racing and he loved his family. I've never seen anyone who was so happy all the time. He was doing what he loved to do and the thing he had always wanted to do, and he loved every second of it. "My heart just breaks for Kyle and Patti, and for Richard and Lynda and everybody at Petty."
STERLING MARLIN, #40 COORS LIGHT CHEVROLET: "I'm just in shock. That boy absolutely loved driving race cars. It
was the one thing he wanted to do his whole life. "I remember when he was born, and not long after that sitting on his granddaddy's shoulders in Victory Lane at the Daytona 500. He looked like he was a natural there, and I've got the feeling he started making plans to get back to Victory Lane for the Daytona 500 as fast as he could. "(Wife) Paula and me, our prayers go out to Kyle and Patti, and to everyone in their family. They have really suffered some losses in the past few weeks, and I know they are having a hard time right now."(Williams Company)(5-12-2000)
- and from Dale Earnhardt Jr: regarding the death of Adam Petty: "It is a real blow to hear this news. Adam and I came into this sport at roughly the same time, so I looked at him almost like a classmate. We shared a lot of interests and we shared a lot of laughs -- he was always smiling and easy going. It is a tremendous loss for everyone associated with NASCAR racing. I can't express how much sorrow I feel for the Petty family, but I know they are strong and will pull through this tragedy. I want to send my deepest sympathies to the Petty family - they have done so much for everyone in this sport."(fingerprint.inc/Budweiser)(5-12-2000)
- Humpy Wheeler of LMS: “It’s a terrible tragedy to lose a person so young and full of life. Our prayers and thoughts go out Kyle and Pattie and the entire Petty family. There is no question Adam inherited the Petty racing genes. He was a very talented driver and a real gentleman on and off the track. He provided one the most
memorable highlights in our 40-year history when he won here in his ARCA and superspeedway debut in October 1998. That was truly a special moment to see him with the entire Petty family in victory lane. This untimely loss will touch all of us deeply for a long time to come.”(Lowes Motor Speedway)(5-12-2000)
- Johnny Benson was at home in Cornelius North Carolina and made the following comments by phone after learning of Petty's death. "This is tragic. When I heard this i could not believe it. To have someone so young and with such a bright future ahead of him die like this is a hard thing to swallow. The Petty family has helped build
this sport. It goes back to Lee, Richard, and Kyle and I know it would have continued with Adam. They are almost like royalty in our sport. For a family that has done so much for the sport and then to have this happen is just terrible. My Dad raced and that is how I got into this sport. It's hard to explain why we love racing and on days like this it is even harder. Its so rare for this to happen in NASCAR because they have made the cars so safe in recent years. Sometimes you get lulled into thinking it can never happen."(Tyler Jer Motorsports PR)(5-12-2000)
- Steve Park qualified 21st on Friday for Saturday's Busch race. Park's comments came while standing in the team hauler after learning of Petty's death. "I don't know what to say. Adam and I were joking around this morning right before practice and then to have this happen is unreal. This hurts. I was on the motorcycle ride with Kyle the week before last and we raised a lot of money for charity. The Petty's do a lot for other people and it hurts that we can't do anything for them right now. I'm numb. Racing seems so unimportant right now. My prayers are with the Pettys."(Tyler Jer Motorsports PR)(5-12-2000)
