LOUDON, N.H. (May 12, 2000)<br> Adam Petty, 19,
was involved<br> in a single-car accident during<br>
a NASCAR Busch Series Grand<br> National Division
practice<br> session Friday afternoon at<br> about 12:45 p.m.
at New<br> Hampshire International<br> Speedway in
Loudon. <br><br> Following the incident, Petty<br> was
immediately transported<br> by ambulance to Concord<br>
Hospital where he passed<br> away from head trauma
suffered in the accident, according to an<br> announcement
made at 3:50 p.m. ET by Concord Hospital Director<br>
of Public Affairs M. Eileen Male. <br><br> Petty is
the son of NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and
car<br> owner Kyle Petty and grandson of seven-time
NASCAR Winston<br> Cup Series champion Richard Petty.
<br><br> "It is difficult to express our sadness over the
passing of Adam<br> Petty," NASCAR President Bill France
said. "On behalf of the entire<br> NASCAR family, we
extend our hearts and prayers to his parents<br> Kyle
and Pattie, his grandparents Richard and Lynda and
the<br> entire Petty family. <br><br> "The Pettys are an
integral part of the sport of NASCAR racing.<br> The
entire NASCAR community will miss Adam Petty." <br><br>
"It's unreal, isn't it?" said series point leader Jeff
Green, whose<br> moist eyes displayed the mood in a
garage filled with quiet grief<br> and disbelief. Green
said he was in the garage area when the<br> accident
occurred in Turn 3 of the 1.058-mile oval.