The following is a sampling of the reaction from the NASCAR community to news of the passing of 19-year-old Adam Petty following a crash Friday:

"It is difficult to express our sadness over the passing of Adam Petty. On behalf of the entire NASCAR family, we extend our hearts and prayers to his parents, Kyle and Pattie, his grandparents, Richard and Lynda, and the entire Petty family. The Pettys are an integral part of the sport of NASCAR. The entire NASCAR community will miss Adam Petty." -- NASCAR president Bill France.

"The brightest stars often shine for a brief period of time. I'm glad my last memory of Adam was only a week ago, laughing and cutting up as we took part in the annual Kyle Petty Charity Motorcycle Ride Across America. Adam was always smiling." -- Eddie Gossage, general manager of Texas Motor Speedway, where Petty made his NASCAR Winston Cup Series debut last month.

"Adam and I were joking around this morning right before practice, and then to have this happen is unreal. This hurts. I was on the motorcycle ride with Kyle the week before last and we raised a lot of money for charity. The Pettys do a lot for other people, and it hurts that we can't do anything for them right now." -- fellow NASCAR Winston Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division driver Steve Park.

"It is a real blow to hear this news. Adam and I came into this sport at roughly the same time, so I looked at him almost like a classmate. We shared a lot of interests and we shared a lot of laughs -- he was always smiling and easygoing.

"It is a tremendous loss for everyone associated with NASCAR racing. I can't express how much sorrow I feel for the Petty family, but I know they are strong and will pull through this tragedy. I want to send my deepest sympathies to the Petty family -- they have done so much for everyone in this sport." -- Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver

"He provided one of the most memorable highlights in our 40-year history when he won here in his ARCA and superspeedway debut in October 1998. That was truly a special moment to see him with the entire Petty family in Victory Lane. This untimely loss will touch all of us deeply for a long time to come." -- H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte.

"To have someone so young and with such a bright future ahead of him die like this is a hard thing to swallow. The Petty family has helped build this sport. It goes back to Lee, Richard and Kyle, and I know it would have continued with Adam. They are almost like royalty in our sport. For a family that has done so much to this sport and then to have this happen is just terrible." -- NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Johnny Benson.

"I remember when he was born, and not long after that sitting on his granddaddy's shoulders in Victory Lane at the Daytona 500. He looked like he was a natural there, and I've got the feeling he started making plans to get back to Victory Lane for the Daytona 500 as fast as he could." -- NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Sterling Marlin.

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