Second Death at Track Has Drivers Stunned

The point of impact on the wall was already painted over the day after Winston Cup driver Kenny Irwin’s car hit it nearly head-on going 150 mph.

Harder to cover up Saturday was the sadness and loss wrought by yet another driver’s death at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

“We’re all stunned, shocked that this could happen again,” Winston Cup champion Dale Jarrett said.

“Unfortunately, we all have to go on about our business.”

It was hardly business as usual.

Irwin, 30, died of multiple injuries Friday after his car struck the wall entering the nearly flat third turn and flipped over during practice for today’s New England 300. On May 12, at almost the same spot, Adam Petty died while practicing in his Busch Series car on the 1.058-mile track.

“Hopefully, we’ll use these unfortunate circumstances to make things better,” Jarrett said. “There should be something come out of these two accidents that will be beneficial to everyone in the future.”

Although there was still no official word on what caused the accident, a single car running straight into a wall often is the result of a throttle stuck in the open position.

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Rookie Kurt Busch raced to his second consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory, beating Mike Wallace in a two-lap scramble in the thatlook.com 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway.

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Top-fuel star Cory McClenathan will face defending Winston Showdown winner John Force today in a rematch of last year’s semifinals in the NHRA all-star event at Bristol, Tenn.

In last year’s race, Force guided his funny car past McClenathan en route to the $200,000 victory.