Beyond the Flag
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Ten NASCAR Drivers Who Had Their Careers Cut Short

By Brian Thornsburg

Feb 17, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; Team spotters watch the action during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; Team spotters watch the action during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kenny Irwin Jr.

Kenny Irwin Jr. had a pretty bright future ahead of him in the world of auto racing. Not only did the Indiana native start racing in quarter midgets by time he was in the second grade, he also began racing for his father in the IMSA American Challenge Stock Car Series when he was still just a teenager. Needless to say the racing bug bit Irwin at a very young age.

Irwin Jr. continued his success in the USAC Series, accumulating seven Sprint Car victories and winning rookie of the year honors in 1993. Erwin then followed that up by winning The USAC Silver Crown rookie of the year honor in 1994 and The USAC National Midgets champion in 1998. With not much left to prove in USAC, Irwin Jr then set his sights on racing in NASCAR.

If fans thought Erwin was impressive in USAC, they hadn’t seen anything yet. Erwin Jr. won the pole in only his second start in The Craftsman Truck Series at Richmond and finished the race in the eight position. He then followed that up the next year by winning two races, and finishing tenth in overall points in his first full season in the Truck Series.

Irwin also made his cup series debut during this time, starting on the outside pole at Richmond International Raceway and finishing the race in the eighth position. Irwin Jr. was making quite a name for himself early on in his NASCAR career and critics were starting to compare him to fellow open wheel driver, Jeff Gordon.

Sadly, Irwin would never get to fully live up to that moniker as the Indiana native was killed during a practice session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2000. The incident occurred when Irwin‘s throttle got stuck and he plowed head first into the turn two wall. The car then slid on his side for a while before finally rolling onto its roof. It was later determined that Erwin died of a basilar skull fracture and was killed instantly upon impact.

While it is not known what Irwin Jr. could have accomplished  had that fateful accident not taken place in 2000, its pretty safe to say that NASCAR fans could have been looking at a future Sprint Cup Champion and legend of the sport.

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