NASCAR legend Tony Stewart has a deep and profound respect for Kenny Irwin Jr., his most prodigiously talented rival from the 1990s. Born in Indiana, Kenny took a path to the Cup Series mirroring Stewart’s. He began racing midgets, moved to USAC, and ultimately to NASCAR. However, fate had a different and unfortunate outcome in store for him. Irwin Jr. died, aged 30, following a crash during practice at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2000.
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Stewart, who was racing alongside Irwin Jr. at the time, honored his talent and spirit in an interview last month. “He’s one of the best I ever ran against,” the three-time Cup Series champion said.
“If Kenny would’ve lived, he would’ve at least won a NASCAR championship, if not several. Unfortunately, we lost him too soon,” added Stewart.
Irwin Jr. began racing at quite a young age. He started in quarter-midgets while he was in second grade at school. In 1988, he got his SCCA license and competed in the GT1 category. He then raced in the IMSA stock car series as a teenager.
In 1991, he got into the USAC. He was named Rookie of the Year in the National Sprint Car Series in 1993 and won the USAC National Midget Championship in 1996.
The paths of Irwin and Stewart had crossed multiple times by then. Tony was a strong driver in USAC as well during this period and had won multiple championships.
“Kenny and I started racing midgets against each other at the speed room in 1991 and both worked our way into all three national USAC series together,” Stewart reminisced.
Irwin Jr.’s caliber on the race track caught the eyes of the many NASCAR team owners who were actively searching for the next Jeff Gordon at the time. It wasn’t long before he got a seat in the Truck Series. His first full-time season came in 1997. He recorded two wins, seven top-5s, and 10 top-10s that year.
He also made his Cup Series debut the same year with an eighth-place finish in Richmond.
Irwin Jr.’s time in the Cup Series and eventual death
Irwin Jr. spent 1998 and 1999 driving for Yates Racing in the Cup Series. He won Rookie of the Year honors in 1998 with a pole position and four top-10s. He put up an impressive performance the following year as well. In 2000, he joined the newly formed Team SABCO.
It was to be his second full-time season in the Cup Series. He started the year well with a fourth-place finish in Talladega. Then came the fateful crash during practice in New Hampshire on July 7, 2000, which ended his life prematurely.
Irwin Jr. like a true-blooded racer, pursued his dream to reach the pinnacle of racing till the final second of his life. He is remembered today for his incredible racing achievements in the short career that he had, and also for the many charitable acts he did off the track.
