david poole dies at 50

David Poole, an Observer reporter who became one of country’s leading authorities on NASCAR, died of a heart attack this afternoon. He was 50.

Poole had just returned from last week’s race at Talledega, Ala. He was at his Stanfield home when the heart attack occurred. His daughter called 911. Emergency crews rushed him to the hospital in Stanly County, where he was pronounced dead.

The reality really set in when "David-Poole-Charlotte-Observer" -- as he identified himself in rapid Southern cadence -- wasn't called on to ask a question of Earnhardt. David was always part of this weekly forum, usually first in line.

He was THE beat writer. The drivers and race teams live in or near Charlotte and his race recounts and opinion pieces were what they had delivered to their doorsteps on Monday mornings.

And David was always up to it. He wasn't afraid to ask the tough question. He wasn't afraid to question the tough.

Those that have worked with David will remember him for many reasons. He was our voice when it came to getting the speakers louder, the replays re-played. ... or the press rooms quiet on deadline. Television cameramen and still photographers didn't dare box him out of an interview.

FanHouse blogger Geoffrey Miller said today he considered Poole one of his greatest influences, something which David would undoubtedly try to make light of, even as he so graciously appreciated the praise.

He'd motion the car to move forward then stick his palm up to signal for Earnhardt to stop. He never sat down and raised his fist in encouragement every time Earnhardt's No. 88 drove by - even though he would have been nothing more than a red blur to his favorite driver.

David got such a kick out of it. He laughed all afternoon. Until the last lap.

As we heard the impact just below us and watched Carl Edwards' car fly into the air and into the fence, we gasped, and immediately went into hard-news mode. We needed medical details, crash details and David was already holding officials accountable.

He cared deeply for the people he covered and the fans who watched and that always came through in in his writing.

David Poole cared. And the sport and those that knew him are better off because he did.

It's a fine legacy for the family he was so proud of - the one thing in life he cared for most.

David Poole will be sadly missed his reporting on the sport whether it be in syndicated columns or via his blog Life in the Turn Lane was always thought provoking, if not controversial.

Full Throttle sends its respects to family, friends and colleagues in their time of sadness.

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