| | Associated Press
LOUDON, N.H. -- It was almost as if it never happened, at least outwardly.
Two days after Kenny Irwin was killed in a crash while practicing at the New Hampshire International Speedway, Winston Cup racing went on as usual in the New England 300 on Sunday. Tony Stewart, a fierce rival of Irwin's, won the rain-shortened race.
The bands played, the beer flowed, even through two long rain delays the air was filled with the roar of the engines and a capacity crowd.
The only striking reminder was a moment of silence when more than 100,000 race fans abruptly fell eerily silent. But it was only a moment, then the stands buzzed again in anticipation of racing.
"It's still race day," said Alan Snell, of Tiverton, R.I., a fan who said he would be cheering as always.
Michael Millard, of Windsor Locks, Conn., expressed similar
sentiments.
"It's racing. It's the risk they take," he said.
"The machine was already set in motion. They're not going to
turn the machine off," he said of the festivities and the race
itself. "He was a casualty of the product."
But that's not to say Irwin's death was set aside completely.
"It affects the whole atmosphere of the weekend," said Chip Calverley, of Sekonk, Mass. "It casts a shadow over the weekend and the event."
Steve Darand, of Augusta, Maine, who has attended about 22
Winston Cup races, said Irwin's death was on his mind.
"Whoever wins the race today, I'd like to see them do a ... lap and hold up Irwin's flag and Petty's flag," he said.
Stewart not only didn't take a victory lap, there was no Victory Lane celebration after the race.
Irwin's death came only about two months after Adam Petty was killed near the same spot, also while practicing for a race at the track.
Track workers and officials also were feeling the pain.
"It's something that hangs in the air," said Glenn Joyce, who
helps put on clinics for fans explaining safety features of cars.
"Everyone is more mindful of what we're watching. It's
entertainment, but we know it has risks to it."
Track owner Bob Bahre defended holding to the usual schedule.
"It's got to be. Things have to go forward, things have to go
on," he said. "(Irwin) and Petty would not want anything
different."
He said the busy day helped his employees get through the day,
"not that we're not thinking about it."
Chaplain Dale Beaver, who travels the Winston Cup circuit for
the non-denominational Motor Racing Outreach center based in
Charlotte, N.C., held his usual service two hours before the race
in the garage area, attended by some 300 racing team members, fans
and others. He spoke of the frailty of life.
"I just wanted to help them grieve," he said. "If I'm
representative of the mood, it was a good healing time."
Race car owner Robert Yates spoke about life and Irwin, and Elizabeth Waltrip, wife of race driver Mike Waltrip, talked about Irwin's faith. Kevin Judge of brake pad manufacturer Raybestos, which had a personal services contract with Irwin, talked about Irwin's "tremendous smile."
"I asked everybody to remember that," he said. "Instead of a
tear, it's a smile."
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