Remembering Adam Petty

 

Getty Images/David Taylor

     Petty, a familiar name in the world of racing. A name carried by King Richard, 7-time Winston Cup Series Champion, and record holder of the most all-time wins in the series. Richard’s father, Lee Petty, who scored 54 victories, and 3 Championships throughout the 1940’s, 50’s, and 60’s. And Richard’s son Kyle, who had a somewhat successful career. While those men were victorious, one name that must not be forgotten is that of Adam Petty.

Adam Petty, the son of Kyle Petty, Grandson of Richard Petty, and the Great Grandson of Lee Petty was born on July 10th, 1980, in the town of Trenton, New Jersey. Adam, who is believed to have been America’s first 4th generation athlete, had some very big shoes to fill. Adam began his racing career in 1998 making 22 combined starts in the ARCA Re/Max Series, the NASCAR Midwest Series, and the ASA National Tour. In his very first ARCA start young Petty won the race, as well as scoring a victory that year in ASA. 

Continuing his career, Adam made 54 NASCAR Busch Series starts, scoring four Top-10’s through the late 90’s and into the year 2000. Right of the bat, Adam showed some impressive skills, finishing his Busch Series debut race 6th, and finishing 20th overall that season.

  

With this successful young man on the move, his family’s race team (Petty Enterprises) wanted to bring Adam up to the Winston Cup Series as soon as possible (planing for full time in 2001). To prepare Adam, Petty Enterprises set aside 7 Winston Cup Series races that Adam would attempt in the year 2000. On April 2nd, 2000, Adam would make his first Winston Cup Series start at Texas Motor Speedway for the “DirecTV” 500. Adam qualified 33rd, and ran mid pack for most of the race, until his car experienced engine failure, and his day ended with a 40th place finish. Adam’s father, Kyle Petty, was unable to qualify for that race, and never got the opportunity to share the track with his son that day. 

After the unfortunate ending to that Spring race, Adam ventured on, competing full time in the NASCAR Busch Series. While that season was off to a poor start, Adam stuck it out, knowing things could only get better. On the second week on May, 2000, Adam packed up and headed towards New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the “Busch” 200. That Friday, May 12th, 2000, during a practice session for that race, Adam Petty was headed into turn 3, when everything went wrong. Adam’s throttle was stuck, wide open, and against Petty’s best efforts the car slammed nose first into the outside wall. 19 year old Adam Petty, died upon impact, suffering a basilar skull fracture. 

This death took the NASCAR world by surprise, it was shock how such a young aspiring driver could lose it all, just like that. Adam’s death brought revolution to stock car racing, employing the function on a kill-switch on the steering wheel, in the case of a similar accident in the future. As for Adam’s exact injury, that would not be solved until the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. in 2001, when the HANS device was deemed mandatory in the sport of NASCAR. 

Adam’s father, Kyle Petty, took it into his own hands to finish out Adam’s season, driving the No. 45 for the remainder of the 2000 NASCAR Busch Series season. Following Adam’s death Kyle Petty would continue to run Adam’s number, the No. 45, in NASCAR’s Winston, Nextel, and Sprint Cup Series, until his eventual retirement in 2008. 

To this day Adam is remembered by NASCAR fans all around the world, and is honored through a charity camp called “Victory Junction”. This camp is a place where children with disease, illness, or disability can go, and experience freedom to simply be a child. Adam’s death was one that will never be forgotten, for it undoubtedly saved the lives of many young drivers after him.