Faith Helps Guide Drivers Through Difficult Time

by Michael Carvell for Crosswalk.com Sports

NASCAR's Winston Cup drivers are off this weekend, giving many drivers a chance to reflect on their profession and spirituality.

The racing community is still heavily mourning the death of Kenny Irwin, who was buried in Indianapolis on Wednesday. Irwin was killed after wrecking in a practice session at New Hampshire International Speedway last Friday.

Irwin hit the outside retainer wall in the third turn, only a few yards from where Adam Petty died in a similar accident eight weeks earlier.

Two deaths in two months in the same turn at the same track has shaken the traveling circus called NASCAR. For many drivers, the only way they could make sense out of the senseless tragedies was to fall back on their faith.

"I know the whole garage is sick to their stomach about what has happened," Mark Martin said. "I think Kenny was a Christian, and that's the only good part. That's the only thing about it, the only positive thing that can come of it is maybe he's in a better place. It sure isn't good for the people that are left behind and heartbroken."

Michael Waltrip, who drives the No. 7 Chevrolet, is one of the most well-known Christians in Winston Cup. When Waltrip met with reporters a few hours after Irwin's death, he recited scripture to offer hope and meaning to the tragic day.

"It says in the Bible when you're absent from the body, you're present with the Lord," Waltrip said. "I know Kenny pretty good, and I know he had faith. While it's a sad day for us, I think it's probably the best day of Kenny's life, and I try to look at it like that."

Death is possibility any time a person climbs behind the wheel of an automobile. While some say participating in the highest levels of auto racing is a "death wish," others claim the sport is not as dangerous as one would think.

A few stats: Since Winston Cup began in 1949, 27 drivers have been killed over those 52 years -- which includes all testing sessions, practices, qualifying and races. The last drivers to die on the track were Neil Bonnett and Rodney Orr during Daytona practice in 1994.

"If you just took one lap at each of the 188 tracks that Winston Cup has raced at over 52 years and make it one piece of highway," said NASCAR historian Bob Latford, "I doubt there's one equal section of highway in the country that has had that few of fatalities over the same amount of time."

Adding the length of 188 tracks -- 2.5 miles for Daytona, 1.54 for Atlanta Motor Speedway, etc. -- comes to a total of 135.1 miles.

No statistics can ease the fear of NASCAR drivers and their families these days. Two drivers have been killed in eight weeks, and others have had close calls.

At the Daytona truck race last February, Geoffrey Bodine was involved in what has been called "one of the scariest-looking wrecks in NASCAR history." Bodine's ride flipped over numerous times, became engulfed in flame and appeared to almost disintegrate.

Miraculously, Bodine survived the accident. He slowly recovered from numerous injuries and returned to competitive driving a couple of months ago. He was at New Hampshire when Irwin was killed.

"I thought I survived the worst crash in NASCAR," Bodine said. "Now Adam Petty and Kenny Irwin are gone with crashes in practice. I'm numb. My body is shaking it's so numb knowing this happened here. We have to cope with it. Everyone has to.

"What happened to me at Daytona, being saved, was strictly God's will. What's happened here with Adam and Kenny, I believe, people say when it's your time, it's your time, but I believe God has a reason for things, good or not so good. Things that make us happy and things that make us sad.

"I have to believe that because I know what happened to me in Daytona. I have to believe the reason why Adam and Kenny are gone, it was fate on God's part. God needed them somewhere else and chose to take 'em. It was Kenny's day to go."

Michael Carvell covers NASCAR for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He lives in North Augusta, S.C.

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