You left us too soon!
Your life and that thousand watt smile shined with great promise for
the future... You were the glowing light of a legacy that was to continue
for years with us, far into the future.
We hung our hopes of 4 Generations on you...

We will miss seeing the driver you would have been... but we know
you're dazzling them on Heavens Raceway.

We Deeply Mourn the Loss of Adam Petty, and Pray for Strength
and Peace for the Petty Family.

No Parent should have to outlive a child.

Wizards

Gone Too Soon

A Special Editorial Reflection
Adam Petty
July 10, 1980-May 12, 2000

Shock, disbelief, confusion, an outcry of denial and a million questions
of why, was the reaction of most of the racing world on Friday afternoon, May 12 when Adam Petty died from an accident during practice for
the BGN race at NHIS. The news has covered all the details of the event with dignity and the solemnity it commands. Most of the media has been respectful enough to allow the Petty family their privacy. Fans around
the country and the racing world have expressed the deepest sympathy
to the family in their loss. For many it's an unimaginable thought,
but for others it's all too close to home.

19 years old is barely enough time to make a dent in life, but Adam did.
By virtue of his family name, and the broadest, most memorable smile
on the tracks, Adam impressed everyone he met. Unpretentious, the boy-next-door, always respectful of everyone (with the ma'ams and
sirs peppering his speech) and not relying on his name alone, Adam
was the fruit of good family influences. ESPN and RPM2Nite have
shown beautiful tributes to a special young man in an especially
close-knit family. Sudden tragic death is never easy to accept. We
humans like life, and loving and our families and our hobbies and
all the things we cull out of the existence we know on this earth. Every parent dreads the thought of burying one of their children and
commonly pray never to have to, but sadly, it happens. The chance is
a little higher when children race.

Racing is a sport of extreme risk. All differences aside and no fan
will dispute with another that the sport risks life and limb of all the
drivers involved. So the question arises, why in the world would
parents "permit" their child to race, and especially so young?
Remember the blood? The spirit to compete to the very edge is
something unmistakeable among racers and at the core of all
experiences requiring a step out in faith to test limits. Racing families
grow up in the midst of a sport that challenges everyone involved.
Not all children of racers want to race either. The characteristics
and traits show themselves until a racing parent is convinced that
it's the real thing. The atmosphere is a natural environment for them
and the potential for disaster and tragedy an accepted fact. Naturally,
by no means does this make any tragedy such as Adam's fatal accident
any easier to accept. The grief will last a long time for his family
and multitude of fans. But, the fact remains, given a chance to
choose over again, the same choices would be made- again.

Ultimately, absolute faith presides over all the fears. The Petty family
faith is no secret and a real credit to the strength they exhibit. When
Adam's crew chief was killed in a freak pit accident, their strong faith
and family ties were the ultimate testimony holding them all together to support him through such a terrible accident. Mistakes happen.
Strength comes from enduring the trials and tribulations of our choices. However, when a person's time has come, there's not much that can
change the Plan. I believe we'd live very differently if we knew when
our moment was and oft think we should, since we don't know when
our time will come. Faith is what helps everyone through such a time
as this, when answers are scarce and understanding even less.
Faith allows parents to trust in their children's choices and beleive
they'll be as safe as they're supposed to be. And it's faith that we rely
on for the strength to endure such intense heartache. The morning
the call came of my brother's demise last year is one I'll never forget
nor one I'd never have gone through had I had the choice. The
heartache is indescribably unbearable, unless you have faith.
It's faith that assures us, too, that we'll one day be rejoined, though
a very small comfort in the moment.

Adam's shortened life touched many people. Whether he'd have
lived up to his grandfather's legacy or not will never be known. Young
as he was, he made an impact and his was a life lived to the fullest
and a credit to his heritage. An infectious smile, a friendly style,
always the competitor as well as a friend, Adam Petty should have
been heralding in a new era of Petty's in Nascar. Instead, he'll be
forever remembered by his family and all racing fans as the rising
young star gone too soon.

Debbi Willis

You can catch Debs other articles at Catchfence.com
   You can email Deb at Daw613@bigfoot.com

A Prince in Heaven

We’ve lost a bright and shining star
Our loss was Heaven’s gain
Where once was joy, there now are tears
For those who still remain.
I guess we were not meant to know
Just how bright this star would shine.
Today our Heavenly Father said
“Adam, come home son, now it’s time.
Though I gave you to your family
For just a little while,
I need you here to light up
All of Heaven with your smile”
A star that burns so brightly
Gives off the purest light
So now he shines in Heaven
Our beacon in the night.
He joins our other heroes
Who have gone on before.
He’s guided there by angels,
Right to Heaven’s door.
Arms reach out to hug him
They place him on their knee.
No wonder they’re so familiar,
It’s Great-Grandpa Lee.
He’s like a song that’s left unsung,
Too beautiful to sing.
Something dear and precious,
A cherished, loving thing.
He was a prince of Nascar,
The grandson of the “King.”
He’s now a prince of Heaven
Driving for THE KING
The brightest day in Heaven
As the new prince there arrives.
Is one of grief and sadness
Tears of sorrow in our eyes.
Our prayers go out to Richard
To Lynda, Pattie, Kyle
The void that’s left, the emptiness
Will remain a long, long while.
But oh, the joy he gave us
With that Petty smile and cheer.
He’s left, but not forgotten
Forever we hold him Dear.

5/12/00 Contributed by Barb Kerr
You can email Barb at dale843@localnet.com

The Fourth Generation

In July of 1980, to the Pettys a child was born.
They gave him the name of Adam,  the young man that we now mourn.
With Patti’s hand in Kyle’s they enter Adam’s domain,
Gaining strength from each other, Somehow helps ease the pain.
She picks up his pillow and hugs it tight to her breast
Her grief stricken body refuses to rest.
He pushes a button on Adam’s stereo,
and sees a George Strait CD all ready to go.
His favorite music artist was the famous George Strait
he really loved his country music and very seldom did he stray.
He takes a deep breath but even that won’t stop,
the tears of sorrow that began to drop.
The King, Richard, imagines his throne
He’d give it up gladly, if it would bring Adam home.
From Go-carts to Winston Cup, he lived for a race,
and Dear Adam always had a smile on his face.
Excited and nervous, he drove the Winston Cup car.
The whole racing world knew he was going to go far.
The loss of Lee Petty was terribly sad,
but could it be he was called to greet the young lad?
Now he’s waiting in Heaven, for his family and friends,
so I guess the Lord had made other plans.
Yes Adam really loved his auto racing,
and he was extremely proud to be the 4th generation.

(C) Contributed by Gayle Claussen 6/9/00
You can email Gayle Claussen at bgclaus@centurytel.net
 

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