NOTE: this is MY drivers tribute, not looking to post other's people ideas for their past drivers or NON-NASCAR drivers..why no separate pages for Kulwicki or Allison? like with Petty, Earnhardt etc? Easy, they passed before I started the site [August 1996], the pages I have are mostly links and stories from when the driver passed away with some pics thrown in, more of an archive of their death then a tribute.

Kulwicki family's gifts gain recognition: Alan Kulwicki's family has been recognized through the NMPA's Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award for recent gifts to two universities. The family has committed nearly $1.9 million to support engineering education at UNC Charlotte through a trust fund established by the late driver's stepmother, Thelma H. Kulwicki. The money will support student scholarships and a new motorsports engineering facility on campus. The family of NASCAR’s 1992 Cup champion also contributed nearly $630,000 to his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The gift will be used for scholarships and to help establish the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Student Center.
Also receiving fourth-quarter votes from members of the National Motorsports Press Association were Jeff Gordon, Sam Hornish Jr., and 11-year-old R.J. Fink of Ross County, Ohio, who donated his go-kart winnings to Denny Hamlin’s foundation. Charlotte Observer writer David Poole was recognized posthumously through the group's first-quarter vote. Jeff Kerr, a jackman at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, was honored in the second quarter. Tony Stewart was the third-quarter recipient.(Charlotte Observer)(12-16-2009)

Wendell Scott Remembered: Wendell Scott, a Danville native, was the first black man to win a race in the Grand National/Winston Cup series, the equivalent of today’s Sprint Cup series. On Saturday, “Wendell Scott Recognition Day” was observed at the Virginia Museum of Natural History. “I was very happy with the way it turned out,” said Michael Scott, the youngest son of the late Wendell Scott. “A lot of people came out and showed support. It turned out to be very nice.” More than 50 people attended the event, including Brian Donovan, author of Scott’s biography, “Driving Hard: The Wendell Scott Story: The American Odyssey of NASCAR’s First Black Driver.” NASCAR historian Buzz McKim, state Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, Martinsville Vice Mayor Kimble Reynolds Jr., Tony Millner, president of the local NAACP chapter, and fans and friends of the late pioneer also attended. The event offered a wealth of information, including first-hand stories about the driver, a video which included statements from NASCAR legends such as Richard Petty and Ned Jarrett, and displays with newspaper articles, pictures and other racing memorabilia.
Donovan read the prologue of his book and explained that Scott’s biography is “a story of one of the courageous racial pioneers that helped make our country a better place in a time when that could be very dangerous.” McKim said information about Scott will be a part of two permanent displays in the Charlotte, N.C., NASCAR Hall of Fame, which is currently under construction. One of those will include a “biographical paddle,” while another will be dedicated to the diversity of NASCAR’s drivers. There will also be a larger display dedicated soley to Scott in the hall of fame when enough articles of his racing career can be located, McKim said. “I think today was a big step in the right direction,” said Donovan of his hope that Scott will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “We got a commitment today explicitly from Buzz McKim of the NASCAR Hall of Fame that there will be an exhibit featuring Wendell Scott. I think he’s a logical candidate for nomination, and I hope he (McKim) does, too.”(Martinsville Bulletin)(9-15-2009)

The event at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., has been organized to honor Scott’s memory and to encourage NASCAR to recognize him in its new Hall of Fame, which opens next May in Charlotte , NC .

Wendell Scott Recognition Day will include a film about Scott’s life, an exhibition of vintage stock cars from the 1950s and ‘60s, and a display of paintings of Scott and his race cars by Martinsville artist Alexir (Lex) Hairston, the event’s chief organizer. There will be several speakers (including author Brian Donovan), and the admission is free.

Scott was not included on the recently released list of 25 possible NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees, and his omission has sparked a growing controversy.

Hairston, whose paintings of Scott have been displayed in Roanoke’s art museum, said those who attend the event will have the opportunity to sign a petition asking NASCAR to honor Scott.

The petition says: “We urge NASCAR to recognize Wendell Scott’s pioneering accomplishments as a racer in the new NASCAR Hall of Fame. We believe that the facility should include an exhibit honoring Scott’s unique struggle and his passion for racing. We request that Scott be nominated in the near future for consideration as an inductee.” The controversy over Scott’s absence from the recent list of Hall of Fame nominees began with an article in the Bristol Herald Courier on July 3. The author, sportswriter Allen Gregory, who covers NASCAR, criticized the “snub” and wrote that “the nomination of Scott would have been huge for a sport that lags miles behind on the diversity curve.”

Gregory wrote that Scott had “endured years of neglect, abuse and outright treachery at many levels” of NASCAR racing. His article said “it appears all those splashy press conferences and impassioned speeches on diversity from NASCAR officials in recent years were just empty platitudes.”

Many of Scott’s difficulties with NASCAR are documented in “Hard Driving.” The book’s website is www.harddriving.us . At the Recognition Day event, Hairston’s portraits of Scott and autographed copies of “Hard Driving” will be available for purchase.

The Bristol Herald Courier story, reprinted in other newspapers and racing websites, has been followed by more articles critical of NASCAR in online publications such as insiderracingnews.com, blackvoices.com and faniq.com. Hairston said those who support the petition but can’t attend the Sept. 12 event should email their comments to him at AHHMSH@yahoo.com. More info at streetribedesigns.com.(8-23-2009)

Tim Richmond being honored UPDATE: On June 20th Mansfield Motorsports Park will host the inaugural running of the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA-RE/MAX 200 celebrating the incredible on-track accomplishments of the late Tim Richmond, an Ashland, Ohio native who would have turned 54 June 7th. Like many aspiring stock car racers, Richmond’s racing resume included a stint in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, when, in only his career first Series start, he won the February, 1981 ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway. Richmond’s racing career began in 1976 when he turned some laps in a Sprint Car at Lakeville Speedway in Lakeville, Ohio. He went on to earn Rookie of the Year honors in the 1980 INDY 500 and later became one of the first drivers to successfully make the switch from open wheel racing to stock car competition. He posted 13 wins, 42 top-5s, 78 top-10s and 14 pole awards in just 185 career starts in NASCAR’s premier division, the Sprint Cup Series. There will also be a Team Transporter Parade Tribute to Richmond on June 19th.(6-19-2009)
RACE: From his high school graduation ceremony Friday night, to the winner's circle at Mansfield Motorsports Park Saturday night, 18-year-old Parker Kligerman padded his point lead with another convincing ARCA RE/MAX Series victory. With an exceptional and ultra-enthusiastic crowd on their feet, the Penske Racing development driver, in the Cunningham Motorsports Dodge, held off Joey Coulter during a green-white-checker finish to win the inaugural Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA 200 presented by National Speed Sport News at the Mansfield, Ohio short track.(ARCARacing)(6-21-2009) Comment here

Daugherty Plans Tribute To Wendell Scott: Many NASCAR fans will realize a dream at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend when a cast of legendary drivers returns for the Saturday Night Special. For Brad Daugherty, the 15-lap celebrity event before the legends race will have special meaning. Daugherty will pay tribute to the first African-American driver to compete full-time in NASCAR’s premier series. Daugherty’s Late Model car will feature the #34, the former number of Wendell Scott. “Wendell is one of my heroes, and I wanted to honor him,” Daugherty said. A life-long race fan who grew up in rural North Carolina, Daugherty said he wishes more fans had a deeper appreciation for the contributions of Scott. “I don’t think people appreciate the tenacity that the guy had,’’ Daugherty said. “Wendell was treated almost sub-human at times, but he persevered and did what he wanted to do no matter the obstacle.”(Bristol Herald Courier)(3-20-2009)

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To get back press 'BACK' on your browser.
These are just a few images I came accross early in my Jayski.com career of fallen Racing Heros, drivers who have passed on to the race track in the sky. Most of these images have been sent or emailed to me.

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Click on above image to go to my other Tribute pages for the above drivers we lost in 2000 and 2001

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Blaise Alexander

Davey Allison

Davey Allison

Neil Bonnett

Mark Donohue

Sonny Easley

Richie Evans

Alan Kulwicki

John Nemechek

Benny Parsons

Tim Richmond

J.D. McDuffie

Rob Moroso

Rodney Orr

Swede Savage

Chris Trickle

Driver Tributes

• New York Times:
  Omission of a NASCAR Pioneer Stirs a Debate by Bruce Lambert (8-20-2009)

• Washington Post:
  Great Scott: While the president and NASCAR celebrate stock-car racing, here's someone they might want to honor (8-23-2009)

• Insider Racing News: Down Memory Lane ~ J. D. McDuffie by Patty Kay.(3-4-2004)

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Honor stirs up fond memories of Kulwicki by Gary D'Amato (7-25-1999)

• Fireball to be honored: Apopka [FL] will honor hometown hero and the late NASCAR star Glenn "Fireball" Roberts on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008. The fund-raising event, held at the suggestion of Roberts' daughter, Pam Roberts of Rockledge, will feature Roberts' famous #22 race car and Roberts memorabilia his daughter donated to the Museum of the Apopkans and other exhibits. Roberts, considered among the best drivers to ever race in NASCAR, was born in Tavares and moved to Apopka with his family before reaching school age. The family moved to Daytona Beach following his sophomore year at Apopka High.(Florida Today)(8-16-2008)

• North Carolina to Honor Benny Parsons on Thursday, Oct. 11: Residents of North Carolina's Wilkes County will pay homage to their hometown hero, Benny Parsons, by naming a portion of U.S. Highway 421 in honor of the 1973 NASCAR champion. The "Benny Parsons Highway" will be unveiled during a dedication ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 11 a.m. The five-mile stretch of road runs from the Maple Springs community to the Watauga County Line. "Benny loved his hometown and moving back here meant everything to him. He would be overjoyed by this," said Terri Parsons, Benny's wife. North Carolina Governor Mike Easley is among those scheduled to participate in the dedication ceremony. The event will take place at Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge Wine Tasting Room and Racing Museum located at 4187 Highway 421 in North Wilkesboro, N.C. A reception will follow. The wine tasting room and museum is open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 6pm. Wines may also be purchased online at www.rendezvousridge.com. Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge recently earned three bronze medals for its Chardonnay, Merlot and Cab Franc wines during the 2007 Mid Atlantic South Eastern Wine Competition.(PR)(10-9-2007)

• Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge Opens: Monday, July 23, marked the grand opening of Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge Wine Tasting Room and Racing Museum located at 4187 Highway 421 in North Wilkesboro, N.C. The vineyard and wine tasting room were dreams of Benny Parsons and he was working diligently to bring them to fruition when he passed away in January. Parsons began working with wine maker, Mark Terry on his dream two years ago by leasing grapes from Windy Gap, Carnegie and Copeland vineyards. He enjoyed the task of picking each type of grape that he leased from neighboring North Carolina vineyards to start the production of his 2006 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and his personal favorite BP's Blush. Parsons also dreamed of moving back home and he began the construction of a new home that rests on Rendezvous Ridge surrounded by the vineyard that he created. "I can't believe this day is here, "stated Terri Parsons, the wife of Parsons. "We have all worked so hard to make sure that all of Benny's wishes for his wine and vineyard were carried out. I really wish he was here to enjoy it." Members of the Wilkesboro City Council visited on Wednesday, July 25 for a special ribbon cutting ceremony. The town of North Wilkesboro will also pay remembrance to Parsons on Thursday, October 11, by naming a five-mile portion of Highway 421, "Benny Parsons Highway". Fnas can visit the wine tasting room and museum Monday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. For those who can not make the trip to visit the Wilkesboro, NC, wines can be purchased on line at www.rendezvousridge.com.(7-26-2007)

• 'Fireball's' daughter wants to document 'Daddy's' life: Roberts Trivette wants to write a book to share her side of the story about the man whose friends knew as Glenn, his family knew as "Bubbie" and Daddy and the millions of old-time NASCAR fans knew as "Fireball."
  "The title is 'Fireball Roberts, his Daughter's Story of his Career,' " Roberts Trivette said. "This is letting everyone know this is coming from me who lived it, who is living to tell it. Mother (Doris) told it in any interview she was ever asked to do, whether it be newspaper or television, and she did an awesome job with it because my mother dedicated her life to preserve his memory." Roberts, born in Tavares and raised in Apopka, earned his nickname not from racing but from his prowess as a pitcher on a local American Legion baseball team. He went on to become one of the sport's premier drivers, winning 33 races -- including the 1962 Daytona 500 -- before being fatally injured in a fiery wreck at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1964 when Pam was 13 years old.(Florida Today)(2-7-2007)

• Sad News: Benny Parsons: Benny Parsons, 65, passed away today [Jan 16] at the Intensive Care Unit of the Carolinas Medial Center in Charlotte, NC. Parsons, who became a popular television and radio personality after retiring from driving in 1988, entered the hospital Dec. 26 as the result of complications stemming from his battle with lung cancer. The cancer was diagnosed earlier this year and was recently reported to be in full remission.
  Survivors include his mother Hazel Parsons; wife Terri Parsons; sons Keith and Kevin Parsons; brothers Steve and Phil Parsons; sister Patty Severt; and granddaughters Emily and Libbie Parsons.(PRN/LMS PR)
  See info about Benny's career and bios at BennyParsons.com, goPRN.com or rendezvousridge.com.(1-16-2007)
  Benny Honored Friday: Benny Parsons was remembered by the NASCAR community Friday for everything from his gift of gab, voracious appetite, love of golf and skill on the race track. But more than anything, "Ol' BP" was remembered for being a friend to everyone in the racing community. "I've lost a buddy and it's hard to take," two-time NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett said in one of six eulogies given for Parsons. "But I know I'm not alone: Benny was everybody's buddy." Parsons, the 1973 Cup champion and an award-winning NASCAR broadcaster, died Tuesday from complications stemming from his brief battle with lung cancer. He was 65. NASCAR's past and present turned out to celebrate his life at the Grace Covenant Church, which hosted the ceremony dubbed "A Service of Victory." The eulogies - given by five of Parsons' broadcasting partners and childhood friend Tom Thornton - all touched on Parsons' love of food. His popularity as an announcer started during the popular "Buffet Benny" ESPN segment that he did about food available at race tracks. Parsons will be buried following a private family service Saturday in Millers Creek.(Associated Press)(1-20-2007)

  
  #55-Michael Waltrip testing at Daytona on Monday Jan 15th
  Show's Benny Parsons [BP] support
  Picture by Steve Richards of PRN

  
  The Banner the flew over Watkins Glen on 8-13-2006 taken by Mark

• Fans Honor Tim Richmond at Watkins Glen: Fans with an eye to the sky Sunday morning prior to the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen likely are going to see an unusual banner being towed by plane. The banner's message in the air above the road course in the mountains of New York state's Southern Tier won't be an advertisement for some company or product. Instead, it will read, "Tim Richmond We Miss You--Your Fans." The banner is the idea of Mark Weaver, who lives near the Glen, along with Walt and Brenda Wombough of Neptune, N.J., and other friends, all of whom remain fans of the driver who died of AIDS on Aug. 13, 1989. It's a play off the banner that Richmond had towed over Daytona International Speedway in February of 1988 after NASCAR officials barred him from competing in the Daytona 500, ostensibly because of a failed drug test. That banner read: "Fans I Miss You--Tim Richmond."
  "We're doing this to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Tim's win at Watkins Glen on Aug. 10, 1986 when NASCAR brought its big-time series and drivers back to the track after an absence since 1965," Walt Wombough advised in an e-mail. "It's also 17 years to the day of Tim's passing.(ThatsRacin)(8-9/13-2006)

• Underbird in Vegas: Alan’s UNDERBIRD has been moved from the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall Of Fame to The new Hooters Hotel Casino in Las Vegas.(2-15-2006)

• Kulwicki Honored: Ten years after fate took away our reigning Winston Cup champion, Alan Kulwicki, the fans still remember with a passion that is addictive! A full house at the Greenfield Wisconsin Hooter’s Restaurant sure reminds us that as the time goes by the pain of loss might weaken, but thankfully the memories of his greatness grow! Even the folks that just stumbled across the festivities during their regular Hooter’s run got in the spirit! The evening started with one of Dennis Mielcarek’s AK videos, the interview Benny Parson did with Alan after his Championship. The second of Dennis Mielcarek’s memorable videotapes was a tribute to AK done by the local media in Milwaukee. Such great scenes of Alan doing things “His Way.” When Garth Brooks “The Dance” played along with the scenes of AK and his family it was a moving moment. A caravan of cars and trucks left for the cemetery for the candle light vigil. Many of the vehicles had “AK 7” all over them.(Full story at Frontstretch)(4-3-2003)

• Kulwicki Elected to Hall of Fame: Lou Creekmur and Mike Ditka, both members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, were among three former athletes elected to the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in Orchard Lake. Also elected was the late stock-car driver Alan Kulwicki, the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion. Ditka was the top vote getter, receiving 290 on the 326 ballots cast. Creekmur was second with 191. Kulwicki was selected by the veterans committee. They will be honored at three events June 7-8. A testimonial dinner will be held at 6 p.m. June 7 at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy, with formal inductions ceremonies at noon the next day at Dombrowski Field House at St. Mary's College in Orchard Lake. The night of June 8, the inductees will be recognized at Polish-American Night before the Tigers-Brewers game at Comerica Park.(Detroit Free Press), note: this occured May 1st(5-27-2001)

  

• Tim Richmond Wreath: Tim Richmond, voted one of NASCAR’s Fifty Greatest Drivers of all time, passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla. on August 13, 1989. On Friday, August 13, 1999 a wreath will be placed in his honor at Providencia Park located just South of Good Samaritan on Flagler Drive. A small group of Internet race fans formulated the idea when they realized it would be too costly for all of them to gather for a formal Commemoration. So they decided to place a wreath and attach a booklet to it, resembling an Internet Message Board as it were. Much to their delight it has grown to well over 200 pages and encompasses writers from Canada, California and many of the States in-between. The wreath will be flanked by a sign which was hand painted by a Minor O. Rodeffer, from Mt. Crawford, VA. The book, which has spread into books, is begun with a prayer by Daniel J. Auppl of Minnesota and ended with a prayer by Hap Lewis of West Palm Beach. In between are poems, such as the one written by Rebecca Borelli for Filmar Racing and touching personal stories from fans who met Tim Richmond and from those who were touched by him. Don Spincken, of Amherst, NH, who spent many hours working on the project said, “after reading it, I have a tear in my eye and a smile on my face.” Herb Ballengee, who spent many hours at his computer said, “I never expected so many responses.” Amy Snodgrass of Ashland, Ohio, Tim’s hometown, hopes that West Palm Beach will be the inspiration to erect a permanent memorial in Ashland. Jayedda S. Marsh of Boynton Beach, FL will physically place the wreath. “I know that without the readership of the Internet sites, in particular, jayski.com; speedworld.net; racecomm.com and netpitpass.com the response would never have been so swift in such a short period of time. I think the re-run of Tim Richmond stories written by the well known novelist and motorsports writer Matt McLaughlin assisted in bringing such heartwarming stories to West Palm.”(8-12-1999)

• JD McDuffie Honored: With the resignation of Dan Ford Jr. as a driver of his ARCA car, owner John Bailey faced the agonizing possibility of parking the car that he had built as a tribute to a late friend. But Bailey announced Thursday that the #70 Bailey Excavating/R.W. Mercer Co. machine that carries the same colors that it did when the company sponsored the late J.D. McDuffie, will run the remainder of the ARCA season in the hands of Jeff Finley. "We, more than anything, just want to win one for JD (McDuffie) and keep his memory alive," Bailey said. "He was a good friend of mine, a great man, full of guts and gusto, and someone I really admired."(SpeedVision - now Speed Channel) McDuffie started 653 Winston Cup races, as an independent owner driver, such as Dave Marcis is doing now. McDuffie was killed in 1991 in an accident at Watkins Glen.(8-4-2000)