“I Don’t Want to Be Here Right Now”: Remembering One of the Darkest, and Most Shameful Days in NASCAR History

Sports are an avenue for entertainment, for fun. They are joyous and celebratory occasions. However, some days turn out to be darker than others. NASCAR has seen its share of dark days; very dark days. Among those was one in 1991 in New York.

The 20th century had a number of racing fatalities – a sight no longer seen, luckily. At the 1991 Budweiser at the Glen, another driver succumbed to the hazards of NASCAR racing when JD McDuffie and Jimmy Means made contact and crashed. While Means was left unhurt, McDuffie wasn’t so fortunate.

Paying tribute to a veteran

His death was first confirmed by Chip Williams, the Media Coordinator, after a lengthy red flag delay. “I regret to inform you that JD McDuffie has passed away. He was 53 years old. Of course, our hearts right now are with his wife, Ima Jean [Wood], and his children, Jeff and Linda. It’s a pretty sad day right now.”

A fitting and heart-touching tribute came from Benny Parsons, one ESPN’s announcers for NASCAR. “Jean… I know exactly what you’re going through sweetheart,” he said. The grief-filled statement referenced the loss of his wife earlier that year.

He continued by explaining why the race was going to finish. “And you fans out there, you wonder, how these guys can get in these cars and go back out and restart this race. Hey, it’s their job, it’s what they do. There’s a 100,000 people here this afternoon to watch them do that job.” 

“There’s not one of these drivers that wants to be in that race car right now. They want to be in the garage area, talking to their wife, their girlfriend, their mom, their crew members… whoever.”

“I don’t wanna be here now. I want to be over there looking at Ned, looking at Bob, and just not saying anything. But we’ve got a job to do and that’s to report to you who wins, who loses, and what happens during the day. Jean, we all love and we’re sorry,” he signed off.

Ernie Irvan beat legends like Dale Earnhardt, Mark Martin, Darrell Waltrip, and Richard Petty to the finish line. But there were no celebrations. Only sad remembrances of the loss of a beautiful soul.

Did NASCAR take the wrong call?

Memories of the crash at Watkins Glen and the subsequent death of JD McDuffie elicit sad memories. But it also reminds fans that NASCAR decided to go ahead with completing the race.

In recent days, something similar took place. The on-field cardiac arrest that Damar Hamlin suffered during an NFL game between Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was a messy and scary affair.

Players must’ve been distraught and disturbed to a degree no one else can understand. Luckily for everyone, Hamlin did not lose his life, thanks to the quick intervention from paramedics. But NFL’s decision to stop the game and postpone it for later in the season was applauded.

It, therefore, begs the question, was NASCAR right in going ahead with the race? Could a different decision have been taken, especially since McDuffie’s death was confirmed within a short while of the accident?

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These are uncomfortable questions but these are decisions that NASCAR should be ready to take in the future.