Today is Mother's Day, a day to remember all the love in our lives from the women who have moulded and guided us to where we are. Some may have good memories, happy memories and some may be filled with sadness. And some may be mixed as mine are today.

Friday, racing lost a very young racer. A young man who was only starting his adventure in life. Adam Petty knew what could happen but I don't think most of us ever really think that it will happen. So when a life is taken thru a racing accident, we seem to take in a deep breathe of reality.

Adam Petty and my only daughter were very close in age, only days apart by birthdays. Adam born July 10, Kimberly born July 16. But they both shared alot even through they were different gender and different parts of the United States.

Adam's life ended in a tragedy, a throttle stuck. Last night, my daughter held the throttle wide open trying as hard as possible to win a Powder Puff that Adam was leading her thru. As strange as that may sound, Adam was with her. Somehow, he helped her find a car to race, to race her way into second and not wreck or harm the car or herself in any way.

Today is Mother's Day and my heart is happy because my daughter is here and she got to race last night and that was very important to her but my heart is also heavy too and that is because of Adam Pettyand his mom. We know how dangerous racing is but even knowing does not take away the pain of experience when it happens.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, and especially the racing mothers who do what I did last night and never stand still while the ones we love are doing their thing.

Jane Smith

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