Wish You Were Here (A Tim Richmond Tribute)

A tribute by Bradk12fan. Tim Richmond started out in Indycar in the early 1980s earning top rookie honors in the 1980 Indy 500. After several accidents including one at Michigan in which his car was torn into 3 pieces, Tim made the jump to Nascar in late 1980. Tim joined Hendrick Motorsports in 1986 where they won 7 races and finished 3rd in the standings. When he missed the season-opening Daytona 500 in February 1987, media reported that he had 'double pneumonia'. The infection most likely resulted from his compromised immune system, which had been weakened by AIDS. The disease would drastically shorten his life. Despite the state of his health, Richmond competed in eight races in 1987, winning two events and one pole position before his final race in August of that year. He attempted a comeback in 1988 before NASCAR banned him for testing positive for a banned substance; after NASCAR insisted on access to his entire medical record before reinstating him, Richmond withdrew from racing. NASCAR later on stated their original test was inaccurate.

Tim never told anyone that he had A.I.D.S. It wasn't revealed that he had A.I.D.S until after his death. The banned substance that Tim was taking was a special antibiotic that was used at the time to combat A.I.D.S.

Bill France Sr. admitted in an interview years later that the test was flawed.

Rest In Peace Tim Richmond, you are greatly missed!

The 1990 movie 'Days of Thunder' which starred Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and Robert Duvall was loosely based on Tim Richmond's life.

[johnmartyanik]

Raw talent. Richmond piloted a racecar in unequal style. Hasn't been a driver that showed how much he enjoyed it since. And may never be again. Wish we saw a full career Tim. Be at peace.

[patrickdron]

one of the best taken from this world too soon. RIP Tim you are missed.

[billywaynehuggins]

Tim. Is really missed. He was a true wheel man. He lived hard raced hard. Died too soon

[markmnorcal]

A Tom Cruise hollywood movie is a start. Tim defined the way man can handle a machine and take him to the top with style.

[Rbyrd]

Just awesome.No other way to describe this! I dare say if Tim was healthy in 88 Elliott wouldn't have won that championship

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

IF Richmond and Davey Allison hadn't passed away when they did Earnhardt and Gordon damn sure wouldn't of had all those championships.

[DJprofessork]

Could have been one of the best had his career not been so shortened. Who's to say Earnhardt would have seven championships? With the talent he had, it would likely not have happened. Too bad all we can wonder now is "what if?". RIP

[Reddaytonadog]

I've seen Richmond run during races run on ESPN Classic. A hell of a race car driver truly missed. In fact, I just wish he were still here racing.

Jimmie wouldn't have won five championships, Gordon wouldn't have had as many, and Earnhardt may not have had seven. Tim Richmond raced as hard as he could with everything he had even in the final days of his career. We had the misfortune of losing a driver to AIDS. Rick Hendrick had a great driver who had gone too soon and had died so young.

What nobody ever mentions is Miss Winston Cup also passed away from AIDS, she and Tim were real close. Tim was a shining personality and a great driver. Harry Hyde was his crew chief and mourned him like a son. I don't think he ever quite got over it. Tim is a legend and NASCAR treated his memory like shit, it's as if he didn't exist.

[Crocfan]

R.I.P. Tim Richmond, no doubt he would of been a champion if it hadn't been for him contracting AIDS

[lcrane]

I can agree with many of you in the fact that Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon would not have had as many championships if Tim Richmond, Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki all had not died before their work was done. Dale never won a championship a season in which Tim competed in all races. (For what its worth) For that matter Dale Sr. was about to go to the next stage of his NASCAR career. Who knows what he might have accomplished as an owner? God bless 'em all great drivers and the sport was not so uptight. As for the Junior Johnson stories about chicanery done to his are fabricated lies.

[bradkfan]

@kingpins9 The same thing can easily be said for drivers like Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki, and Adam Petty, but like you said, it's all 'ifs' and 'buts'. But, if there is one thing that I do know, drivers like Alan, Adam, Davey, and Tim, will never be forgotten.

[Reddaytonadog]

@bradk12fan Probably one of the best drivers of the 1980s, sure, but he was different from the rest.Rick Hendrick hired a great driver, but his lifestyle and his rise to fame may have been what led to his demise. Not many people know who he is to this day unless they saw him race or look at what he was.

Away from the track, he may have been out partying and having fun with the ladies, but that probably got him into trouble. He made a great comeback by winning his first race back.

[connirichmond]

Earnhardt said it, he was his friend, and my cousin, Thanks for posting this!

[bradkfan]

@Reddaytonadog Would there even be drivers as hyped-up as Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson if Richmond had not died of AIDS? Unfortunately, there are a lot of ifs. But, I guarantee that Gordon, Earnhardt, and Johnson would've been racing against one of the best. Richmond was one hell of a driver, I never got to see him race, or race against him, he was gone before my time, but, I would've loved to meet him.

[bradkfan]

@1977SOUTHERNBOY Thanks, I'm sure that Tim would've given Bill a run for his Million Dollars.