Kenny Irwin

August 5 1969

July 7 2000

Welcome to my tribute to, the late Kenny Irwin. On July 7 2000. We were all terribly saddened today to learn of the tragic and unfortunate death of Kenny Irwin at the New Hampshire speedway.

Name: Kenny Dale Irwin Jr.
Birthdate: August 5, 1969
Birthplace: Indianapolis, Indiana
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Height: 5'11
Weight: 165 lbs
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Parents: Kenny and Reva Irwin
Hobbies: Golf and Pool
Team: Nascar Winston Cup #42 Bellsouth

In only his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series race, Kenny Irwin left little doubt why he is one of the most anticipated rookies in NASCAR's history. Irwin grabbed the spotlight last September at Richmond International Raceway by qualifying his Ford on the outside pole. He then put the racing community on its feet when he snatched the lead on Lap 86, and held it for 12 laps. When the night race was over, Irwin crossed the finish line in eighth place, becoming the only driver in NASCAR's modern history to start on the front row and finish in the top-10 in his first race.
Irwin, who hails from racing-rich Indianapolis, Ind., proved himself as one of the top racers in the open-wheel ranks of the United States Auto Club. In five full seasons with the USAC Skoal National Midget Series, Irwin earned eight wins, 20 second-place, 59 top-five and 87 top-10 finishes, as well as the 1996 championship.
Irwin also has seven wins in the USAC's Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series, and was named its Rookie of the Year in 1993. Irwin followed that by being named the USAC Silver Crown Series Rookie of the Year in 1994, and finished second in points in 1996. He has four career Silver Crown Series victories.
In 1997, his first full season with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Irwin once again was named Rookie of the Year, behind two wins at Metro Dade-Homestead Motorsports Complex and Texas Motor Speedway finished 10th in the series point standings. In 1996, he sat on the pole in only his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Richmond International Raceway
capped a tumultuous year that saw him go from heralded newcomer to a man allegedly at risk of losing his ride by winning the Raybestos Rookie of the Year Award in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Kenny Irwin, who led the field to the green at Atlanta, led the rookie pack all season long.
Irwin, whose Bud Pole Award for the season finale NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway put the icing on an up-and-down season in the Robert Yates Racing Texaco Havoline Ford, ultimately finished 16th in the race that ended nearly 12 hours after it was scheduled to begin due to several rain delays. But his victory over a rookie of the year field that included drivers Kevin Lepage, 1997 NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division Raybestos Rookie of the Year Steve Park and Jerry Nadeau gave the No. 28 car its second such title in 12 years. The late Davey Allison drove the car, then owned by Harry Ranier with Yates as crew chief and engine builder, to the title in 1987.