Threats of lawsuits. Kenny Irwin, left, and Adam Petty, right, are on everybody's minds at New Hampshire International Speedway this weekend. A few heads turned in the media center when Scott Wimmer crashed during Busch practice Friday, even though it was a minor accident. And when TV monitors showed a helicopter hovering over the speedway, it was difficult not to do a double take, imagining a driver being airlifted to a hospital. The camera-equipped chopper was simply testing the angles and shots.
Nobody expects a serious accident.
And even on this warm and clear New England day, the possibility of tragedy looms over this track and this sport. Pole winner Kevin Harvick , who took Dale Earnhardt's spot on Richard Childress' Winston Cup team after Earnhardt was killed at Daytona, admitted that last year's tragedy was on his mind. It's in the back of your mind, but you have to go out and do your job and do it to the best of your ability, and that's what we've done. Despite a perceived lack of progress on the safety front, Steve Park said things have changed at Loudon. They've ground the bump down in Turn 3 and this is about the smoothest I can remember this place since they first paved it.