NASCAR Legend Found Dead

Sports

NASCAR legend Richard ‘Dick’ Trickle died on Thursday at age 71 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police confirmed.

The body of the retired race car driver was found at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Boger City, North Carolina, 30 miles west of Charlotte. His body was discovered near his pickup truck.

It is not known why he chose the cemetery as the location to end his life.

The victim had actually called police before shooting himself and forewarned them ‘there would be a dead body and it would be his.’

During races ESPN commentators Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann also enjoyed making light of the alliteration in his name and would always take notice of Trickle’s finish, regardless of his placement, according to WCNC-TV.

‘No sports figure Dan and I had fun with took it more graciously. In fact, gratefully,’ Olbermann tweeted on Thursday.

Former NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine expressed his grief over the sudden news of his friend while remembering him in an interview with the Associated Press as a man who was ‘fun, just plain fun.’

NASCAR chairman Brian France released a statement saying “Dick was a legend in the short-track racing community, particularly in his home state of Wisconsin, and he was a true fan favorite. Personalities like Dick Trickle helped shape our sport. He will be missed.”

Former competitor Rusty Wallace battled Trickle for championships at several levels.

“I’m in 100 percent shock. Dick Trickle was my mentor. When I was short track racing, I would call him every Monday morning and he would always help me with race setups and stuff. He and I had such a good time telling little stories, but he was the guy that taught me almost everything in the American Speed Association. And he was the guy that I battled right to the end for my 1983 ASA championship. I barely beat the guy that taught me everything. I’d not seen Dick as much as I’d like to of late. He was a legend. A man that’d won over a thousand short track races, was one of the most winning short trackers in America, was a role model to many short track racers coming up. Could just do magic with the race car and he taught me so much about racing. My success in the ASA and what Trickle taught me is what got me into NASCAR. That’s what got me hired by Cliff Stewart back in ’84. Between Larry Phillips and Dick Trickle, they taught me everything.”