Hundreds Mourn Driver Kenny Irwin

I N D I A N A P O L I S, July 12, 2000 -- — Hundreds of mourners packed a church today to remember NASCAR driver Kenny Irwin, whose great passion in life also brought his death.

Irwin, 30, crashed into a concrete wall and died of a crushedskull Friday while practicing for the New England 300 at NewHampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

The Rev. Peter Bosworth recounted a recent conversation withIrwin in which he said the driver told him, “You know what, I’ddrive for free. I’d race for free. That’s my passion. That’s mypassion.

“He died doing what he absolutely loved,” Bosworth said.

More than 500 Pay Respects

At least 500 people attended the service at Abundant LifeChurch, spilling out of the sanctuary into a gymnasium to watch onclosed-circuit television.

Irwin’s jet black casket was draped in red roses, with hundredsof floral arrangements on either side stretching across the frontof the church and down two hallways.

The driver’s sister, Korrie Irwin, choked back sobs as she reada poem whose lines included, “Don’t grieve for me because now I’m free.”

Racing Success

A video tribute recounted Irwin’s life in pictures fromchildhood to his recent racing success. Irwin, who was living inCharlotte, N.C., was born and schooled in Indianapolis and learnedto race here as well.

He was just 6 when he entered his first car race inquarter-midgets, pint-sized race cars that spin around tracks at 40mph.

He became the 1996 National Midget Series Champion, and in1997, his only full season with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series,he was named Rookie of the Year. He was the Winston Cup Rookie ofthe Year in 1998.