Coming and Going
by M.L. Morgan 7-22-1999

Well, race fans, it's an eerie irony that John Kennedy, Jr. died the week of the 6th anniversary of Davey Allison's death. They were both inexperienced pilots and both died for that same reason. I think the similarities are striking.

Davey was starting to live up to his potential when he was killed. He was a fine young man and was in the process of establishing himself as one of the top dogs in Winston Cup. His fiery persona on the track was belied by his demeanor off the track. He always found time for his legion fans. His smile was contagious. And it was genuine.

I didn't know JFK, Jr. but I watched Davey grow up. As if he was one of my children. He was almost family, to me. I cried when he was killed. And I am full-grown. I don't do soap operas. Oprah can handle that crap.

Race Views doesn't do politics, but we have a heart. We mourn the loss of young Kennedy and his wife and her sister. We mourned the loss of Davey Allison. We are human.

The ironies are more substantial than the coincidence of their deaths. Both of these young men came from families with a terrible history of grief. The Kennedy's got more airplay, perhaps, but that does not diminish or lessen what the Allison family went through. Bobby miraculously recovered from that horrible wreck. Clifford didn't.

Racing is a business, like I have to play 5 days a week. But you don't just step over dead bodies. Davey is gone and now JFK, Jr is gone.

We stray from racing now and then to do a piece which I think is of human interest. My decision - and I'm too damn old to change. Hope you'll come again.