How many drivers earn five “Rookie of the Year” awards in less than a decade? One: Kenny Irwin, Jr.

A native of Indianapolis, Ind., Kenny made his racing debut at age 20 at the Indianapolis Motordrome in 1991 in a car owned by Rob Parrish. That race convinced him he should pursue a driver’s career. That season, he finished ninth in points in the National Midget Series of the United States Auto Club (USAC) and was named Rookie of the Year. In 1993, Kenny moved up to the sprint division, where he logged seven victories and earned the Stoops Freightliner/ USAC Rookie of the Year award. The following year, he posted six wins and earned the USAC Silver Crown Series Rookie of the Year award. In 1996, he won the USAC Skoal National Midget Series Championships.

Based on his consistent success, he decided he was ready to raise his sights. The next step for Kenny was the 1997 Craftsman Truck Series, in which he posted two wins, seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes, and was 10th in overall points. That record earned him, yes, Rookie of the Year honors.

What would he do for an encore? In September 1997, in his first Winston Cup race at the Richmond, Va., International Raceway, he qualified to start on the front row and logged a top-10 finish. In 1998, his first full season of driving the No. 28 Texaco/Havoline Ford for the Robert Yates Racing team, he earned yet another Rookie of the Year award. His stats were impressive: nine top-10 qualifying efforts, one top-five and four top-10 finishes. He also ranked 14th in the NASCAR Winston Series Miles Leader Standings with 213.81 total miles. The following season, he won one pole position and two top-five finishes -- a third in the Daytona 500 and fifth at Richmond, Va. -- before leaving the Robert Yates Racing team at year’s end.

As driver for the No. 42 BellSouth Chevrolet, his 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup season started promisingly with a top-10 finish at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Then tragedy struck. Kenny lost his life when his car went out of control on turn three at the New Hampshire International Speedway. His short career spanned less than a decade, and yet he left behind an impressive record in USAC and NASCAR Winston Cup racing.

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