Of all the indelible moments from Dan Wheldon’s public memorial service the heart-wrenching letter from his wife cut deepest.
Susie Wheldon’s letter to Dan left few eyes dry in the First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg, Fla.
Wheldon, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, died in a crash last Sunday in IndyCar’s season finale at Las Vegas. He was remembered Saturday not only as a champion but as a devoted husband, caring father, loyal friend and beloved son.
Hundreds said goodbye to the 33-year-old Englishman-turned-Floridian during a service that included a eulogy by the best man at his wedding, country singer Wynonna Judd’s rendition of “Amazing Grace” alongside a church choir and letters by his wife and sister that offered a detailed portrait of the popular and always fun-loving driver.
“My sweet Dan, my whole body is aching, down to the deepest part of my soul,” Susie wrote in a letter read by family friend Michael Johnson. “I keep thinking this is a bad dream.”
Susie wrote about how scared she is that she’s going to forget things, how everything is moving so quickly and that she has to remember to breathe.
“My heart is scattered in a million pieces,” she wrote. “I just want to wake up and hear your reassuring voice.”
AN ADEQUATE SUBSTITUTE
Mike Wallace proved to be a suitable substitute for Elliott Sadler at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Saturday in Alabama, racing to his first NASCAR Truck Series victory since 2000.
Wallace was pushed to the win by Ron Hornaday Jr. using the two-car tandem draft that drivers have used this season in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races at Daytona and Talladega.
Wallace was making his second start of the year. He was called by Kevin Harvick Inc. last week when Sadler pulled out to stay home with his wife as they await the birth of their second child.
“Right here, this is an incredibly unselfish individual because he could have worked for the win,” Wallace said as he hugged Hornaday in Victory Lane. “Thank God Elliott Sadler’s wife is going to have a baby and gave me this opportunity.”
A HENDRICK SWEEP
Hendrick Motorsports proved again it has the best superspeedway program in NASCAR with a sweep of the front row in qualifying at Talladega Superspeedway.
Mark Martin won the pole with a lap of 181.367 mph, just a tick faster than the 181.360 posted by five-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson. Hendrick Motorsports now has won the pole at all four superspeedway races this season, and swept the front row in all but one.
“Our qualifying on plate tracks this season has just been amazing,” said Johnson.
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