David Poole Passes Away

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Longtime NASCAR journalist David Poole died Tuesday. He was 50.

Poole was a writer for the Charlotte Observer and also hosted The Morning Drive from 7-11 a.m. ET weekdays on Sirius.

He died at his Stanfield, N.C., home of a heart attack. The Observer reported that Poole's daughter called 911. Emergency crews rushed him to the hospital in Stanly County, where he was pronounced dead.

Poole was a four-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association's George Cunningham Award as that organization's writer of the year.

He authored several stock-car racing books, including Tim Richmond: The Fast Life and Remarkable Times of NASCAR's Top Gun; Race with Destiny; NASCAR Essential: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Real Fan! (with Jim McLaurin); and Flat Out and Half Turned Over: Tales from Pit Road with Buddy Baker.

A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Poole began his journalism career as city editor of the Gaston Gazette in 1981. He joined the Observer in 1990 and became the paper's NASCAR writer in 1997.

"The NASCAR community is stunned and saddened by the loss of David Poole," NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said in a statement. "David was as passionate about NASCAR as anyone and had very definitive opinions about the sport. He served the industry, and most importantly the fans, through his reporting and commentary in the Charlotte Observer and Sirius Satellite Radio. Our thoughts and prayers go out to David's family and friends. He will be missed."

Poole is survived by his wife, Katy, sons Matthew and David, daughter Emily and grandson Eli.

He will be missed. He was one of the greatest when it came to writing about Nascar. Rather you agreed with his point or views or not you know he knew what he was talking about.

R.I.P David.