Whether you’re a genuine fan of stock-car racing, or maybe someone whose job description includes keeping tabs on that world, during most days you likely click on Jayski.com.
Jay Adamczyk’s website serves as a de facto clearing house of all news coming from NASCAR and occasionally news from other racing leagues.Each news item on the scroll includes a small headline. When there’s a death to report, the headline always begins with two words: Sad News. Then the person’s name. The Sad News headers have been volleyed with alarming frequency the past month, with the dearly departed ranging from legends to bit players to those largely familiar only to garage regulars and — around these parts — those who hovered in that orbit over the decades, especially back when the NASCAR community spent enough time here to practically file for homestead.month ago, this unfortunate roll call began with a big splash.
Sad News — Al Unser Sr., 82. The IndyCar legend was no stranger to Daytona, racing here several times in the old IROC series. He won the 1986 IROC race at Daytona, beating Cale Yarborough to the stripe by a few car lengths. In his only Daytona 500 start, in 1968, he finished fourth, just behind Bobby Allison and just ahead of David Pearson. Big Al was a popular figure who even drew good reviews — personally and professionally — in Smokey Yunick’s rollicking autobiography. Smokey’s stamp of approval wasn’t always easy to attain.
Sad News — Danny Earnhardt, 66. Danny was a familiar yet less famous face than older brother Dale. He worked as a mechanic for three generations of his racing family, from dad Ralph to brother Dale to nephew Dale Jr., whose fledgling racing talents he helped sell to Dale Sr.
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