KENNY IRWIN: RIP

I spent some of my spare time this morning
writing about aero matching and how racing is supposed to be entertainment for
us fans.

Then I got a call telling me about Kenny
Irwin’s death at New Hampshire.

Suddenly, "entertainment" didn’t
really matter anymore.

In all the talk about parity this, and
aero matching that, we forget the human side of this "sport." We
forget that these men (and women) are, literally, risking their lives to
entertain us.

Is it worth it?

I can’t answer that; only the drivers can.
They know the risks when they get in the car. This latest tragedy should remind
us fans again of those risks.

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NASCAR Online has a news section with the
heading "Direct from the source."

I’m acquainted with some of the people
involved with NASCAR Online, and I know they’re good people. But it’s unsettling
to go to the "source" of the news to find out if in fact Irwin was
killed, only to be presented with "They’re qualifying at New
Hampshire".

NASCAR Online took a long time to put up a
notice of Adam Petty’s death back in May, and it looks like it’ll be the same
with Kenny Irwin’s death.

If NASCAR is going to present
"news" of their races, then they need to present all the news, good
and bad.