http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/motor-sports/las-vegas-auto-racing-pioneer-mel-larson-dies-age-87
Mel was instrumental in founding Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He was one of the last surviving drivers from the inaugural Convertible Series season in 1956.
I should have noted in my above post that the net result for both is the same: dead
At least IndyCar's attendance and ratings slowly are increasing.
IndyCar: Having a minor stroke that doesn't hamper your quality of life at 70, being on oxygen from when you're 85m and living to be over 100 even though you need a walker and have to live with your daughter.
NASCAR: Having a massive coronary at 55 and having to have a quadruple bypass, three stents, and an artificial valve put in while the much healthier children and siblings you cut off in your arrogance won't visit you in hospice care.
I seem to remember the exact same thing happening to Marcos Ambrose at Sonoma circa 2010, but instead he got moved back to the position he was in when he restarted.
Hmmm... guess who won that race?
I've tried myself. I'd imagine with his reputation that the family decided to skip the obit lest he get the Art Modell treatment.
I didn't see much detail, but I saw on the Bobby Allison FB page that Jim "J.D." Stacy passed away.
The race was, however, simulcast on NBC and NBCSN. So they had two channels showing the race, and combined they got a 2.07.
http://www.racer.com/north-american-racing/item/135381-tv-ratings-charlotte-suzuka
Thanks for the forewarning. I was going to log on tonight and wonder why I was alone!
I seem to recall this possibility being mentioned during the discussion on chat on August 23.
