A Very Sad Anniversary

It's been 16 years today, May 12th, 2000, since a very young Adam Petty lost his life at New Hampshire. Adam was just 19 years old at the time of his death.

Adam was to be the Petty who would help bring Petty Enterprises back to the forefront of NASCAR racing but it seems a higher power had a different plan.

Adam had a smile that instantly reminded us of his Grandfather, The King. Adam was a great kid and had a promising future. I remember seeing him during driver introductions at Daytona for the Goodies 300 on the Saturday before the Daytona 500. Adam got the biggest cheer by far. He ran up front all day and got a better than expected finish. I think Adam finished 6th that day at Daytona back in February of 1999.

Adam Petty's death changed the face of NASCAR. He was a good and respectful kid and by all accounts and indications had been taught manners, humility and dignity. Unlike some of the NASCAR drivers of today. NASCAR could use a few more like Adam Petty.

Adam Petty would be 35 years old if he were living. Doesn't seem possible.

Adam's legacy lives on at Victory Junction Gang Camp near the old Petty Enterprises shop in Level Cross, North Carolina. I've been to VJGC and it is a fitting and proper tribute to a great kid gone too soon.

Rest in peace Adam.
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We had a kid in his very first race on opening day 2 weeks ago that his throttle stuck wide open and he went into the wall. His safety equipment did its job (he was wearing a HAANS device) and walked away with a broken thumb. I had to go over and find the cause and found it was the low profile air cleaner that rotated and hung the throttle linkage. I was thinking of Adam Petty the whole time and seeing how upset his parents were made me think of how the Petty family felt that day. Then it hit me that if Petty was wearing a HNR that day he would likely still be here.

We had a kid in his very first race on opening day 2 weeks ago that his throttle stuck wide open and he went into the wall. His safety equipment did its job (he was wearing a HAANS device) and walked away with a broken thumb. I had to go over and find the cause and found it was the low profile air cleaner that rotated and hung the throttle linkage. I was thinking of Adam Petty the whole time and seeing how upset his parents were made me think of how the Petty family felt that day. Then it hit me that if Petty was wearing a HNR that day he would likely still be here.

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Originally Posted by Headhunter

We had a kid in his very first race on opening day 2 weeks ago that his throttle stuck wide open and he went into the wall. His safety equipment did its job (he was wearing a HAANS device) and walked away with a broken thumb. I had to go over and find the cause and found it was the low profile air cleaner that rotated and hung the throttle linkage. I was thinking of Adam Petty the whole time and seeing how upset his parents were made me think of how the Petty family felt that day. Then it hit me that if Petty was wearing a HNR that day he would likely still be here.

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Absolutely correct, Hh. It wasn't until arnhead was killed that a serious push was made to explore and ultimately mandate the head & neck restraint systems and softer walls, etc. It's very sad that other drivers killed in the months and years leading up to arnhead's death didn't illicit as rigorous of a search for systems that would provide added driver safety as his death did.

HANS device technology had been around since the mid 1980's and according to what I've read it was widely accepted that the technology worked and would have saved lives almost from it's invention and inception.

Drivers killed by basal skull fractures post 1990: Adam Petty, Tony Roper; Kenny Irwin, Jr.; Terry Schoonover, Grant Adcox, Neil Bonnett, John Nemechek, Blaize Alexander, Dale Earnhardt, J. D. McDuffie, and Clifford Allison.

Maybe, just maybe many of the fatalities listed above may have been avoided if a push towards safer equipment had been made prior to those fatalities. It was the hugely high profile death (at Daytona during the 500) of a hugely high profile driver (arnhead) that finally brought about the changes. But unfortunately those changes came too late for the aforementioned drivers and their loved ones.

Oddly enough, only 3 Indy Car drivers are known to have been fatally injured due to basal skull fracture, Bill Vukovich, Tony Bettenhause Sr. and Scott Brayton. Vukie and Bettenhausen both were killed decades prior to HANS technology development. However, Scott Brayton was fatally injured at Indy in May of 1996, more than a decade after HANS technology was available.

I saw Adam race at the old Jefferson speedway in ga when he was just starting to mature as a driver and was turning a few heads. Definitely had his grandpas smile and personality. Pits were about empty and he was still on pit wall talking, grinning , and just signing stuff for the fans. I made the comment to him bout being like Richard and he said that was a heck of a compliment. Would have made some new records in the books I'm sure. Life is an unknown and we should all try to enjoy every moment.

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Originally Posted by harleysanddirt

I saw Adam race at the old Jefferson speedway in ga when he was just starting to mature as a driver and was turning a few heads. Definitely had his grandpas smile and personality. Pits were about empty and he was still on pit wall talking, grinning , and just signing stuff for the fans. I made the comment to him bout being like Richard and he said that was a heck of a compliment. Would have made some new records in the books I'm sure. Life is an unknown and we should all try to enjoy every moment.

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Good story harley. I never had the pleasure or the honor to have met Adam but everything I've ever heard or read, without exception, was positive and glowing testimonial.

I just want to touch on a subject I've elaborated upon in the past but bears repeating. Just before Christmas 2008 I was in Charlotte, North Carolina on business. While there I rented a car and made the drive over to Randleman/Level Cross to see the Petty museum and the Petty Enterprises compound. After I'd finished going through those facilities a nice lady at the Petty Museum suggested that I go to Victory Junction Gang Camp which is just a few miles from Randleman. I went to VJGC and the sweetest lady was working in the small building at the entrance to the camp that is the welcome center. I went in and asked if there were any tours that I could take though the camp buildings. She said she would take me personally on a tour of the facility if that was okay with me. I was overjoyed.

She took me through the dorms/sleeping areas and all the recreational buildings. The dorms had not yet been cleaned from the last batch of kids that had been there which was very cool. I got to see it as the kids did. She took me through the stable area where the animals were kept and cared for and all the recreational buildings.

She explained that when a group of kids comes in they are all inflicted with the same malady so everyone is in the same boat. Duke University Medical Center sends interns who are in the process of of becoming specialists in the particular affliction of the group that is at the camp at that time. They have a fully staffed bank of aspiring specialists on site in case there is medical problems with the campers. Some of the groups that they bring in have afflictions that are terminal or are going to be lifelong problems.

If any of you are in the area I would strongly suggest going to VJGC and take a look around at what has been built in honor of the legacy of Adam Petty. It is a heartwarming experience that has stuck with me to this day. Drivers like Bobby Labonte, Jimmy Johnson and Tony Stewart, among others, have given literally millions for construction and operational funds.

A very special place and I'll never forget that personal tour the fine lady gave me. She wouldn't take a cent for her time and graciousness. But they had Christmas decorations that would be put on the Christmas trees that are put up at different locations around the camp during the Holiday Season. She explained that from then on the decorations I bought would be put on the Christmas trees every year in honor of my purchase. Needless to say I probably bought over $75 in Christmas tree decorations along with some calendar's they had on sale, etc. to make up for my tour guide's refusal to take any money.

Nice story cirf. Have always planned on checking out the camp, just have never done it. May try to get up that way this summer. It's certainly a great place for a great cause