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Irwin memories CNNSI.com's Smithson: Irwin was gracious at the track
Posted: Friday July 07, 2000 11:02 PM
By Ryan Smithson, CNNSI.com ATLANTA - The best memory I have of Kenny Irwin was in 1998 at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte. Kenny was a rookie that year -- and he was facing huge expectations as the driver of the No. 28 Ford owned by Robert Yates. But things were not going well for Irwin. The situation was made worse when he failed to make the field for the Coca-Cola 600. I remember standing outside Kenny's hauler as we waited for him to come out. It seemed like it was forever before he finally emerged with team owner Robert Yates. It had to be one of the toughest moments of Kenny's life, much less his racing career, but he was very gracious. Reporters always seek good quotes, and he gave us one when he described how physically sick he became when he realized he has missed the race. Irwin never tasted the Winston Cup success that was predicted for him, but he was only 30 years old, so we will never know whether he could have turned his career around. Considering his abundance of talent, it is probable that he would have. Ryan Smithson is CNNSI.com's motor sports producer.
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