Adam Petty

Adam Kyler Petty (July 10, 1980 - May 12, 2000) was the first fourth-generation driver in NASCAR history.

Related Topics:
July 10 - 1980 - May 12 - 2000 - NASCAR

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Born in High Point, North Carolina into stock car racing "royalty", he was the son of Kyle Petty and was widely expected to become the next great Petty, following after his father, grandfather Richard, and great-grandfather Lee.

Related Topics:
High Point, North Carolina - Stock car - Kyle Petty - Richard - Lee

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Adam Petty drove the #45 Sprint Chevrolet in the Busch Series full time in 1999 after a successful season in the Midwestern short track American Speed Association season in the #45 Sprint Spree Pontiac, and like his father Kyle, winning his first Automobile Racing Club of America Re/Max Series start, in the #45 Sprint Spree Pontiac at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1998. In 1999, Adam finished 6th in his first Busch Series race at Daytona and had a best finish of 4th that year. Adam also failed to qualify for three races. He finished 20th overall in points.

Related Topics:
Sprint - Chevrolet - Busch Series - 1999 - Automobile Racing Club of America - Re/Max - Lowe's Motor Speedway - Daytona

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Petty Enterprises planned on giving Adam a Winston Cup ride in 2001 and planned to give him 7 starts in Cup during 2000, along with a full Busch campaign in a car sponsored by Sprint. He struggled early in the Busch season, but managed to qualify in his first attempt at Winston Cup during the DirecTV 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. He was disappointed, however, when his father failed to do the same. Further disappointments came when his engine failed during the race, giving Adam a 40th overall finish. During the race, however, Kyle was able to drive in the event, however, as a relief driver for Elliott Sadler after Sadler felt ill and had to exit his car during the race. Lee Petty lived to see his debut, but died just three days afterwards.

Related Topics:
Winston Cup - 2001 - 2000 - Sprint - Texas Motor Speedway - Elliott Sadler

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On May 12, Adam was practicing his Busch car at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire for the next day's 200-lap event when the throttle of his car stuck and sent him head on into a wall. The impact killed Adam immediately. He was only 19 at the time.

Related Topics:
New Hampshire International Speedway - Loudon, New Hampshire

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Adam's death, along with 1998 Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year Kenny Irwin's at the same track, led NASCAR to mandate the use of a kill switch on the steering wheel, used to prevent such situations, and the adoption of the Whelen Modified Tour restrictor plate for the September Cup race there, but the plate was abandoned after one year. It also began a push for mandatory head-and-neck restraints, something NASCAR adopted in October 2001.

Related Topics:
Kenny Irwin - Kill switch - Whelen Modified Tour

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Kyle Petty, who drove the #44 car at the time of the crash, drove Adam's #45 car in the Busch Series for the remainder of 2000, and has used that number since in Nextel Cup races in tribute, and had Sprint sponsor the #45 for two seasons. To this day, Kyle drives an all-black car in memoriam whenever he races in New Hampshire.

Related Topics:
2000 - New Hampshire

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In October 2000, five months after Adam's death, his family partnered with Paul Newman and the Hole in the Wall Gang camp to begin, as a memorial to the fallen son, the Victory Junction Gang camp in Randleman, NC. The camp has received support from many NASCAR drivers, teams, and sponsors, including Cup Series sponsor Sprint Nextel, which has a replica of the car Adam won races in 1998 in the camp.

Related Topics:
Paul Newman - Hole in the Wall Gang - Sprint Nextel

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In 2004, the Victory Junction Gang camp opened its doors.

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[[Image:

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http://www.martinsvillespeedway.com/images/news/pir_vjpromo_logo_lg.gif]]

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The Victory Junction Gang Camp logo. Victory Junction was opened by Kyle and Pattie Petty as a memorial to their son Adam.

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[[The Victory Junction Gang Camp

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http://www.martinsvillespeedway.com/images/news/pir_vjpromo_logo_lg.gif]]

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