NMPA honors Poole's memory
Friday, May. 01, 2009
RICHMOND, Va. - David Poole has been named the first-quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Associations Spirit Award for his efforts to help a family burdened by medical bills.
Poole, of The Charlotte Observer and ThatsRacin.com, died Tuesday at age 50 after an apparent heart attack.
Poole started the foundation, called Pennies for Wessa, after writing a story about Wessa Miller in February 2008. Wessa, who suffers from spina bifida, gave Dale Earnhardt a penny that he attached to his car's dashboard before he won the 1998 Daytona 500 after years of frustration in the season-opening race.
After the story, Poole kept in contact with the family, saw their struggles and sought to help them. Earlier this season at Bristol, Tenn., Wessa, now 16 years old, got to meet driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the NASCAR Foundation held an online auction, with proceeds going to Pennies for Wessa. More than $10,000 was raised.
Learn more at www.penniesforwessa.org.
The Spirit Award is intended to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports.
In addition, at least four Cup organizations have added decals to their cars this week in honor of Poole.
There are decals of various designs on the cars of Roush Fenway Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Stewart Hass Racing and Richard Childress Racing.
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