Today marks 16 years since young and aspiring race car driver Adam Petty -- the fourth generation member of the legendary Petty family -- died.
The 19-year-old son of NBC on NASCAR analyst and former driver Kyle Petty and grandson of NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty was killed in a crash while practicing for a Busch Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on May 12, 2000.
Kyle and Richard Petty established Victory Junction Gang Camp in Adam’s memory.
A segment of today’s edition of NASCAR America, which runs from 5 - 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN, will pay tribute to Adam Petty. Kyle Petty will also reflect upon his son’s memory on the show.
Adam and his legacy were topics of discussion on social media. Here’s some tweets remembering him, including a message from Dale Earnhardt Jr.:
I showed up shoeless to a race in 1999. Being the quality person he was, Adam Petty loaned me a pair. Won the race in those special shoes.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) May 12, 2016
Adam Petty. Still missed by many. Hard to believe it has been 16 years. Thinking of the Petty family today... pic.twitter.com/zGwtKn8ZbQ
— Atlanta Motor Speedway (@ATLMotorSpdwy) May 12, 2016
[embed]
Today we remember a life cut short. On this day in the year 2000 Adam Petty died in a practice session at NHMS. pic.twitter.com/lmNRPYZ0Vi
— Dale Jr’s Pit Box™ (@DaleJrsPitbox) May 12, 2016
[/embed]
Casey Atwood, Adam Petty and @DaleJr pose for a picture before a 1999 Busch Grand National Series race. pic.twitter.com/JzIGU03pmb
— NASCAR Memories (@NASCARMemories) May 12, 2016
Today and every day, we remember Adam Petty, who lost his life on this date in 2000. pic.twitter.com/oUGbZAtVeS
— NASCAR Memories (@NASCARMemories) May 12, 2016
ADAM PETTY, YOU ARE MISSED pic.twitter.com/hHPFtwR7VK
— Tom DeVette (@TomDeVette) May 12, 2016
I miss him. I was Adam Petty fan club member #12
— Enzo (@Emptydata) May 12, 2016
Follow @JerryBonkowski
