Florida Gov. Backs NASCAR in Investigation

Florida Gov. Bush Backs NASCAR

Refuses to Get Involved in Investigation

Tallahassee, Florida, May 22, 2001 -- NASCAR has the backing of Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Bush has proclaimed that the racing organization possesses the competency to handle investigations of it's own accidents.

Concerning accidents such as the one which killed legend Dale Earnhardt, the Florida Governor also declared that the state should play no part whatsoever into such probes, according to another in a series of reports by the Orlando Sentinel focusing on the fatal accident and NASCAR's investigation of it. Bush added that he is hesitant to encourage further regulation within the sport of racing, according to the report.

Referring to the Earnhardt investigation specifically, as reported by CNNSI.com, NASCAR president Mike Helton now warns that the all-encompassing investigation in the process of being conducted by his organization may not yield all the answers the public is seeking. He does however, continue to promise that NASCAR intends to be completely thorough in it's ongoing probe.

In other related developments concerning the fatal accident, Jeff Gordon, NASCAR's brightest young star, is crediting the HANS device with saving his life after suffering a crash comparable to Earnhardt's, in a separate report by the Sentinel. Earnhardt, of course, was not wearing the neck support device at the time of his mishap. Before winning the race in a back-up car, Gordon crashed at The Winston, NASCAR's all-star race. There have been five NASCAR deaths attributed to violent head movement in a 10-month period.

Also, Teresa Earnhardt has requested that a Circuit Court Judge view the autopsy photos of her husband in order that the judge comes to realize their gruesome offensiveness. Judge Joseph Will has previously declined to view the photos, as also reported by the Sentinel. Mrs. Earnhardt issued her request in accordance with an upcoming June 11, hearing, which will decide whether the University of Florida newspaper and a Web-site owner can gain access to the photos.

It was also requested that Will make a determination on the constitutionality of a new state law which seals all autopsy photos permanently. Additionally, Will just recently issued a ruling allowing that the attorney for the University of Florida newspaper be permitted to question Teresa Earnhardt as to whether NASCAR influenced her decision to have the photos declared sealed in the first place.

Sources :

CNNSI.com, May 21, 2001.
Gordon says HANS, God saved his life, Orlando Sentinel, May 21, 2001.
Racer's widow can be asked why she had photos sealed, Orlando Sentinel, May 16, 2001.
Racer's widow asks judge to view photos, Orlando Sentinel, May 23, 2001.

David Burkey