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Kyle Petty pays heartfelt tribute to late son Adam on his birthday

Meby: Nick Geddes07/10/24NickGeddesNews

Kyle Petty posted a heartfelt tribute on X Wednesday to his late son Adam on what would have been his 44th birthday.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of Adam,” Petty wrote on X. “But today, on his birthday, all the memories come flooding back. My prayer is that Adam will always be remembered. We all miss him every minute of every day.”

Adam Petty passed away on May 12, 2000, after wrecking during a practice session for an Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Adam Petty hit the outside the wall and died instantly, suffering a basilar skull fracture. He was just 19 years old at the time of his death. He competed in 50 NASCAR events across all three series, 47 coming in the Xfinity Series.

Richard Petty, Adam Petty’s grandfather, also took to X to remember him on his birthday.

Kyle Petty remembers No. 45 getting to Victory Lane

Adam Petty piloted the No. 45 car during the bulk of his career, the same number Kyle Petty used in the Cup Series after his death. The 45 car didn’t make its return to NASCAR until 23XI Racing formed and gave the number to Kurt Busch. 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin made sure to ask permission from Kyle Petty, which he approved.

And at Kansas in 2022, three days after the 22nd anniversary of Adam’s death, it was Busch in Victory Lane with the No. 45 car.

“The darkest day for me has always been May 12,” Kyle Petty said at the time, via NBC Sports. “May 12 is just an incredibly dark day. I get to a dark place a few days before that and stay in a dark place for a few days after that. It’s just a dark day. Austin and Sarah having a little girl, that day wasn’t as dark. There was a light. For a change, there was a light in that day. Eventually, that light will be brighter than that day. I’m sure. There’s no doubt in my mind. It’s not there yet, but the light was lit [that day].

“Then to have Kurt and that number in Victory Lane three days later … it’s a week of positive things. It’s a not a week of negative things. It’s a week of light. Not a week of darkness. It’s a week of hope and not a week of despair. I think when you look at it, in 20 years I’ll look back and say this is the week that changed everything.”