ESPN Honors A Dying Tim Richmond | Pocono 1989

In late July 1989, ESPN paid tribute to Tim Richmond as he lay dying in a Fort Lauderdale hospital. Stricken with AIDS and before the advent of KZbin, this was a way for the hospital staff to see Tim as a vibrant athlete full of life. His former crew chiefs Barry Dodson and Harry Hyde pay their respects to Tim. Richmond passed away three weeks later.
To explain his hospitalization, they mention a motorcycle crash Tim had in the spring of 1989 in which he suffered a concussion. "He couldn't get it cranked," fiend Bob Jones said. "He thought he'd try a tow and had a friend of his pull him with a cable," Jones said. "He didn't put a helmet on because he didn't intend to be riding the motorcycle." The clutch on the motorcycle popped as the car lurched forward, pitching Richmond onto the pavement. "He smacked his head on the street."

[@Diesel257]

As soon as it came out it was HIV, NASCAR didn't say his name again for 20+ years. I'll never forget Tim or that fact.

[@danielmoorefield4891]

As Dr Punch said. His lifestyle made him a rock star in a race car but it was ultimately his lifestyle that took him away.

[@codypk5111]

@@danielmoorefield4891 rock star in a stock car

[@montycrain5783]

Intravenous drug use killed so many.

[@jasonmoyer]

He didn't get it from drug use.

[@jimmieroan9881]

@@montycrain5783 get the right information or shut up, that isn't how he got it

[@lisachaney7504]

He needs to be considered for the hallof fame

[@gloriaannopperman2734]

He was kind in helping our Dale Earnhardt Sr when Dale was hurt. Thank you so much Tim! You and Dale Sr are together in Heaven racing again. My husband Jerry and Sugar Bear are happily watching you both race for God!🚖3️⃣🚖👩‍🦳🐕

[@codyhoche8888]

Grew up with that Folgers car of Richmond on my shelf he still Is my dad’s favorite driver

[@suestaley844]

Best natural talent ever. He was the best and gone way too soon

[@vinewood8295]

For sure he could drive anything BUT best natural talent ever is a stretch...

[@benkeel2966]

Magic Johnson announced his HIV in 1991. Tim was fighting AIDS in 1987. The medicine that saved Magic (protease inhibitors) wasnt available until 1991. By then Tim was gone😢

[@nibora7953]

I think it’s messed up how ESPN will never show this 30 for 30

[@shanek.barker7610]

Damn it I was just 10 years old when Tim came to life before my eyes my mom and dad really liked him I thought he was everything by the time I got to 13 years old he was gone my family sad but I got to say thanks Tim what a racer

[@dougfisher1885]

Tim Richmond lived fast and died hard one hell of a driver

[@Ricky414Bobby]

Its weird how Magic Johnson had it around the same time and they only gave him so long to live and he's still around and seems to be in good health.

[@danieldavidson7348]

Tim died before Magic was diagnosed.

[@metrichotrods1763]

Tim had full blown AIDS

[@king0cans]

Brings a tear to my eye.

[@debrawardlaw4558]

SAME HERE !!!

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

Thanks for uploading how fitting Tim Richmond wins at Pocono

[@johndavis2270]

RIP TIM!! ENJOYED THE SHOW!!

[@lasvegaslarrythecableguyim6312]

Tim got around Pocono with such ease. It was a drivers track and he definitely owned it. It’s a travesty watching that disease consume my friend. He was so full of life. I remember his mom asking the team to move his microphone to the other side of his helmet. NASCAR did him dirty. What if will always be ringing in my head. So full of life, reduced to skin and bones. Watching Al go through his death and then losing his wife. Evelyn was Tim’s heartbeat, he loved his mother and she was right by his side. Gone way too soon... RIP

[@leshenson7938]

One of the all time greatest drivers there will ever be. He is why I became a NASCAR fan. He was the man

[@bradsanders407]

Why did she ask the team to move his microphone?

[@jmoneill3]

Bc they put the microphone in his asshole. They thought that was funny. I didn’t find it very funny.

[@reginaldhall6871]

Some people tend to treat others like crap that suffer from a sickness that we knew little about. People with AIDS suffered through it & many with mental illness are still treated like crap today.

[@jondixon1392]

TRUE WHEELMAN

[@burnettrhett1]

Gone too soon. Nascar should be ashamed by how they handled the whole situation and he should have already been put in the hall of fame.

[@johnnymiller8938]

Tim Richmond and Harry Hyde were among the teams to beat. Would have won championships if Tim hadn't got sick.

[@patrickanderson9023]

Jeff Gordon vs Dale Earnhardt vs Tim Richmond vs Davey Allison, along with drivers such as Rusty Wallace, Dale Jarrett and the Labonte brothers, during the 90s. That would probably have been the most competitive era in the history of NASCAR, even more so than what the mid to late 2000s was.

[@tomdalfonzo9959]

@@patrickanderson9023 Along with Alan Kulwicki and Mark Martin in the 1990's. Then imagine Adam Petty vs. Kenny Irwin Jr. vs. Dale Earnhardt Jr. vs. Jimmie Johnson vs. Tony Stewart vs. Matt Kenseth vs. Kurt Busch in the 2000's.

[@retiredmom9049]

Just got back from Charlotte speedway and Hendrick Motorsports has a throwback Tim Richmond shirt out. Yes, I bought one !!!!!

[@rayisland23]

Gone way to soon.

[@E180TEKNO]

i loved this driver

[@noelwarner1235]

Back then HIV was a scary thing that the medical community didn't know anything about and it was something that nobody wanted to talk about. Unfortunately to this day there is still a lot of speculation over what actually took Tim Richmond's life although it was complications from HIV. That was over thirty years ago and things have changed a lot since then. I always thought Jerry punch was one of the best personalities in NASCAR Broadcasting

[@lancehurley9743]

such a damn shame....

[@rmichaelwarren5646]

Love Dr. Jerry Punch!

[@terenceskill9526]

Everybody knew he wouldn´t be coming back. So sad.

[@brianbooher7318]

Tim held that Pocono record till 02 when Billy Elliott won his fifth an Jeff Gordon tied billl latter on been interesting to see how many he would won their.tim was one of the best ever

[@ethantracy337]

How hard was it to know what was wrong and not being able to say it. 😕

[@craigkemmerzell5741]

Great driver

[@jeremyfisher8782]

Kind of feel like Harry's eyes and the look on his face tell the story after he sends his best wishes. Hard to watch a dude like that, as hardcore as he was ... with that look in his eyes.

[@chaddavis2210]

He was the only one who could keep up with dale for a long time and dale is the one who went to nascar on his behalf and told them let him race and quit the shit

[@metrichotrods1763]

Cole Trickle....

[@debrawardlaw4558]

Days of Thunder....it's said Tom Cruise went to race shop to learn about Tim and admitted that was who Cole Trickle modeled after

[@sammylacks4937]

He could sure drive a raceway. Try imagining him.with years more.

[@middleagedjabroni]

Did you know Tom Cruise character in Days of Thunder was loosely based off Tim…

[@johnhamblin4440]

HE.COULD.BEAT EARNHART

[@bradsanders407]

Then why didn't he? In his best season in 86 he finished 3rd and Sr 1st. It was also the only time he finished in the single digits.

[@SurrealCereal]

@@bradsanders407 well considering he only had 7 seasons to dale's 24 it's not really a fair comparison to begin with lol

[@jasonwiggins]

​@@bradsanders407 He did it many times. He had more wins than Sr. in 86, and got too sick to compete soon thereafter. Sr. fans are beyond delusional.

[@andyhamilton8940]

Dang Harry sounds just like Earnhardt here😂

[@donnavonedwardsbr549]

Only time the #25 was dominant

[@rolltide9547]

Still shows how dirty Nascar is by paying an NFL doctor to bogus up drug reports in Tim.

[@mistahjaybevins7619]

A handsome homosexual. Sins will get cha Tim lol😂

[@debrawardlaw4558]

I know someone knew Tim. Not a homosexual. If he were, which he wasn't, what a terrible thing to say. Knowing people, his fans would be hurt. Shame on you.

[@mnamhie]

Tim Richmond wasn't gay. He was promiscuous for sure. Saw the wrong type of women. Watch out men, that's a very dangerous thing to do.

[@ericbruscoe5956]

​@@debrawardlaw4558 not that matters one but but I think he meant to say bi-sexual.

[@debrawardlaw4558]

@@ericbruscoe5956 I don't think he was bi- sexual either. He knew and that was his choice. Nobody's business but his own. I think he got a disease before it was known that safety precautions should be used. I was a well- known fact in the garage that he was with a LOT of women.

[@ryanmathas5649]

Bare back king and it cost him! He could drive that car tho!

[@TheMouseAvenger]

That's not very nice. :-( Besides, what if he got it from a tainted blood transfusion, like Ryan White?

[@jimmieroan9881]

some of you trolls are really sick

[@Tony-bp1nr]

Unfortunately the AIDS awareness was not in full swing until the end of the 1980s. So a lot of people were not as serious about condom use until then.

[@Tony-bp1nr]

@@TheMouseAvenger I remember people back then ostracized Ryan White, which was sickening. He was so innocent and a child too. The fear of AIDS was so rampant back then, people were using really poor judgment.

[@ryanmathas5649]

@@Tony-bp1nr watch Dallas Buyers club movie..it's very good.

[@bigmoney1723]

Tim Richmond was a great race car driver, but apparently Tims greater skill was plumbing 😉

[@mitchalderman1776]

You will soon learn he was poisoned by Nascar