In
Memory of
Kenny
Irwin
1969-2000
Born and raised in a racing town, It didn't take Kenny long to realize what he wanted to do with his life. At the age of 6 he started racing 40 mph quarter-midgets. This eventually led to him racing in the USAC Skoal Midget Series. During five full seasons there, he established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the open-wheeled ranks. Earning 8 wins, 20 second place finishes, 59 top five's, and 87 top ten finishes, as well as the 1996 Championship. While competing in the USAC's Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series, he notched 7 victories, and was named the 1993 Rookie of the Year. In 1994 he became the USAC Silver Crown Series Rookie of the Year, finished 2nd in points in 1996, and has 4 career Silver Crown Series wins. 1997 saw Kenny moving on to the Nascar ranks with his only season in the Craftsman Truck Series. That year he earned 2 victories, finished 10th in the point standings, and earned the Rookie of the Year award. In August of his truck season, Kenny was named as the driver for the #28 Texaco-Havoline Thunderbird, owned by Robert Yates, for the upcoming 1998 Winston Cup season. Kenny was the pilot of this famed car for 2 seasons. In his sophomore year earned a pair of top 5 finishes, and 6 top 10's, along with a pair of Bud Poles. As a rookie he finished 28th in points his rookie year, and moved to 19th in his second. One of his most memorable runs came at the Richmond International Raceway in September of 1997. Kenny started on the outside pole of his first Winston Cup race, by lap 86, he had the crowd on its feet by taking the lead, and holding it for 12 laps. When the night was done, he had finished 8th, becoming the only driver to start on the outside pole, and finish in the top 10 in his first Winston Cup race. The end of the 1999 season saw Kenny moving from the #28 ride, to take over the reigns of the #42 Bellsouth Monte Carlo, given up by Joe Nemechek, for owner Felix Sabates. Kenny was having on of his best years yet in his new ride, when tragedy struck in July at the New Hampshire Speedway. While practicing his chariot, he slammed hard into the outside wall, about 20 yards from where Adam Petty had wrecked 2 months before, and sadly suffered the same fate. Kenny was pronounced dead from a crushed skull at the hospital, leaving everyone in Nascar, including the fans, stunned once again. The sport lost yet another bright star, who's true potential in the sport had not been realized yet. We will miss you Kenny.