Kenny Irwin Memorial Page

A tribute to Kenny Irwin, Jr.

August 5, 1969 - July 7, 2000

Another Viewpoint

"Such a Time as This"
Editorial Tribute to Kenny Irwin

This page is dedicated to Kenny Irwin and hopes to honor Kenny's memory. His time among us was far too short!

Kenny told a reporter once: "My mother is my best friend. She used to take me to baseball games on Saturday, she probably wanted me to play baseball or something, but Dad would show up halfway through the game with the racecar and I’d head off to the track with him. I wanted to race. Dad never had the opportunities I’ve been privileged to have in racing, but he helped me get to where I am today, in Winston Cup. Mom and Dad attend most of my races and are my biggest fans. I’m close to both my parents, without Dad’s help, I couldn’t have made it this far and without Mom’s friendship I wouldn’t be the person I am today either. Again, Mom is my best friend."

What a wonderful tribute to a mother from her son!

August, 2000 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400, in honor of Kenny's birthday, fans gathered and released balloons.

Kenny Irwin earned my respect in one single moment in Charlotte on the Coca Cola Stage at the 600 Speed Street festival downtown. He preceded the popular and outspoken Tony Stewart who'd been his nemesis in recent weeks on the track. In a casual question and answer setting with a crowd, Kenny fielded questions with grace and humor. In the crowd were the usual hecklers and rude fans that follow the sport everywhere and Kenny handled them and their catcalls and insults with enormous class and poise. In those moments, I saw a different Kenny Irwin than I'd imagined from the track antics and gained a new respect for him. Kenny helped me realize just how difficult it is to make it into Nascar but even more how difficult it is to be yourself and survive the rough road along the way.
Because of that moment, Kenny's death hit me hard. Two in two months was too much, but now I'd been able to look into those eyes that would never look back. Many thanks to his family for the fine young man I watched that night!

Once there were only two, now there are four. May all of you rest in peace while your fans and family try to find peace without you.

Gone Too Soon