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CUP: Memories Of 9/11 Never Far Away
Kyle Busch’s Toyota sports a special patriotic paint scheme this weekend...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted September 10, 2011   Richmond, VA
Kyle Busch’s No. 18 Toyota is one of several NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars with special patriotic paint scheme this weekend for the Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo: Tom Jensen SPEED.com)
Carl Edwards remembers hearing about the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks like they happened yesterday.

Edwards, who today is one of the biggest and most bankable stars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, was a college student at the University of Missouri when two hijacked airliners crashed into the World Trade Center towers and suddenly everything anyone knew about American life was irrevocably altered.

“I came out of class and they had a television set up in the commons area and they were showing the footage of what was going on,” said Edwards. “I think like everyone I was very, very nervous about the scope of it and not knowing what would happen next. That is the thing I remember most, just being scared that we didn’t know what was going to happen. To see how it ended up with so many people losing their lives, I think like all of America I felt an overwhelming sense of patriotism and desire to stick together as a country.”

Edwards isn’t alone.

“I was living in Florida at the time and I just remember turning on the TV that morning and seeing one of the twin towers up in smoke and how they were saying that a plane had crashed into it and trying to understand how that could have happened,” said Jeff Gordon, who in 2001 would got on to capture his fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup champion.

“Like many of you to watch that second plane come in there and at that moment your thought process goes into overdrive of, ‘Oh my God what is going on there?’” said Gordon. “And then the speculation. The news station that I was watching is there a problem with the air traffic controllers or the airplane’s radar system is off or flight control is off then terrorism kind of kicked in there and then the other planes and stuff. It was a frightening experience, one I will never forget.”

This weekend the NASCAR community is remembering 9/11 on the 10th anniversary of our nation’s darkest day. And that creates something of an odd juxtaposition at Richmond International Raceway, site of Saturday night’s Wonderful Pistachios 400.

On the one hand, this is the 26th and final race in NASCAR’s regular season, with 14 drivers still mathematically alive to gain one of the three final spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. That should provide plenty of opportunities for the boys to have at it and get fast and furious under the lights at RIR.

On the other hand, the myriad special paint schemes, huge military presence and numerous pre-race festivities lend a somber and properly respectful air to the proceedings. There are cars with patriotic paint schemes, the images of the twin towers, names of first responders and other grim reminders of the attacks.
Ryan Newman's car features a patriotic paint scheme this weekend for the Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond International Raceway. (Photo: Tom Jensen SPEED.com)

“I don’t think anybody ever will (forget) and here we are 10 years later and I think this country has gone through a lot and goes through a lot every 9/11,” said Gordon. “I think it’s important for us to reflect on those that were lost, pay them tribute but also honor our military for what they have to go through and our police officers and firemen as well, what they have to go through to keep us protected and put their lives on the line.”

“The events that happened that day, for me, just made me think about the innocent lives that were lost - people who were just going about their normal daily lives, doing nothing out of the ordinary,” said Travis Kvapil. “Over 2,000 people were killed for no reason. And all the firefighters and policemen and EMTs who were on the scene trying to help — many of them lost their lives, too. For me, it makes me think about all the things that happen daily behind the scenes — the firefighters, policemen and those types of people - and how much more you appreciate them after 9/11 happened.”

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100.
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