rpm.espn.com: NHIS owners stood by Petty

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Saturday, July 21
NHIS owners stood by Petty
By Jack Arute
ESPN.com

The 14-month ordeal for Kyle and Pattie Petty took a new path Friday. After passing on both Winston Cup events last year at the track that took the life of their son Adam, Kyle returned to the wheel of Adam's car and although only 38th fastest in practice, qualified 25th for the New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway.

"Bob and Gary Bahre are the greatest people in the world. We feel as badly for them as we do anyone," said Petty in a prepared statement. "The fans in New England are fantastic and are some of our favorite people. It's hard to find better and more dedicated fans anywhere. The Bahres and the fans up here are a large part of the reason we're racing this weekend."

A good finish will help Petty's healing. Simply strapping into his son's car and motoring out onto the tight-turned, one-mile flat oval was a major accomplishment. Prior to departing for Loudon, Kyle sat down with his crew and offered each member the option of passing on the Loudon event. Many of his team members were there in New Hampshire for last year's May Bush Grand National event that took Adam's life.

When Petty wheeled the starkly plain black No. 45 onto the Granite State track most of those crewmen were on pit row. "Adam would want me and the 45 team to come here and race.

"As a tribute to Adam, we've repainted his race car. We wanted to do something special. We wanted an on-track memorial to him and to those who love him. This isn't a Sprint car or a Petty Enterprises car or anything like that. For this weekend, this is an Adam car," said Petty.

This act of closure reaches out to an innocent party in Adam's death -- the Bahre family. They are the owners of the track and have stood on the side throughout all of the scrutiny directed toward both Adam Petty's and Kenny Irwin's deaths at their track.

The Bahres are not a corporate giant with assorted motorsports holdings. NHIS is the culmination of a dream that father and son had decades ago when they operated a short track in Oxford Plains, Maine.

Oxford was where Bob and his son Gary first met the Petty family. As a stop on the Grand National (precursor to Winston Cup) North Tour, the Bahres hosted the Pettys, the Allisons and the Pearsons each year. They watched Kyle grow into a strapping young man. They followed the exploits of Adam when he was still tooling around on a Big Wheel tricycle.

No two non-family members suffered more when Adam Petty lost his life. The Bahres have quietly offered any support they could. Earlier this year, when Kyle and Pattie formed a youth camp for ill children to memorialize Adam's memory, the Bahre family was one of the first to send a seven-figure donation.

Every parent can identify with the Pettys. It is not the natural order of things to have a son or daughter precede a parent in death. Many of us have experienced the sickening metal taste in our mouth when the phone rings in the middle of the night while waiting for the return of our child.

To some, Kyle's ritual of putting on one of Adam's T-shirts before putting on his driving suit before every race may seem a bit odd. To others, we understand the tribute that Kyle is making to his best friend.

Some know first hand the pain that never subsides after burying a son or a daughter. How laughter can without warning turn to uncontrollable tears when talking about a lost loved one.

Bob Bahre knows a little about what Kyle is going through. His relationship with his son is one forged in business, yet filled with pride and love. His son Gary dedicated his life to helping his father realize a dream of bringing a superspeedway to New England. Not too long ago, Gary was stricken with an illness that threatened his life. He has recovered and rejoined his dad at NHIS.

That's the difference. Bob still has Gary. But Kyle must settle for memories.

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	Petty returns to scene of son's death