NASCAR worker dies of swine flu
A professional NASCAR tire changer and Leominster native died Christmas Day of complications from the H1N1 virus, according to his grieving family.
Donald “D.J.” Richardson, 37, of Morseville, N.C., a Fitchburg High School graduate, became ill on Thanksgiving while visiting Massachusetts. He never returned to his North Carolina home, and died shortly after 10 p.m. Friday at Health Alliance Hospital in Leominster.
“He fought it hard, and we did everything we could,” said his father, Donald Richardson Sr. of Leominster. “He will be deeply, deeply missed.”
Richardson - whose tattoos earned him the affectionate nickname “The Freak” - was a 10-year NASCAR employee, beginning with Andy Petree Racing in 1999, and worked for the Richard Childress Racing Crew in Welcome, N.C. Most recently he was a rear tire changer for Kevin Harvick.
“He was a tough-looking guy and had a heart of gold, and he was a gentle giant. He was a great, down-to-earth guy, who loved his kids,” said Matt Clark, RCR director of human performance and leadership development. In a statement, he added, “D.J. loved changing tires and was recognized as one of the top pit athletes.”
According to his best friend, Henry Moses, 45, of Leominster, Richardson began complaining of flu-like symptoms when the two attended a Thanksgiving football game. The father of three later drove himself to the Leominster hospital, where he was admitted and fought the illness until his death, his family said.
“Thanksgiving was the last day he was healthy,” Moses said.
Source: NASCAR worker dies of swine flu
Donald “D.J.” Richardson, 37, of Morseville, N.C., a Fitchburg High School graduate, became ill on Thanksgiving while visiting Massachusetts. He never returned to his North Carolina home, and died shortly after 10 p.m. Friday at Health Alliance Hospital in Leominster.
Richardson - whose tattoos earned him the affectionate nickname “The Freak” - was a 10-year NASCAR employee, beginning with Andy Petree Racing in 1999, and worked for the Richard Childress Racing Crew in Welcome, N.C. Most recently he was a rear tire changer for Kevin Harvick.
“He was a tough-looking guy and had a heart of gold, and he was a gentle giant. He was a great, down-to-earth guy, who loved his kids,” said Matt Clark, RCR director of human performance and leadership development. In a statement, he added, “D.J. loved changing tires and was recognized as one of the top pit athletes.”
According to his best friend, Henry Moses, 45, of Leominster, Richardson began complaining of flu-like symptoms when the two attended a Thanksgiving football game. The father of three later drove himself to the Leominster hospital, where he was admitted and fought the illness until his death, his family said.
“Thanksgiving was the last day he was healthy,” Moses said.
Source: NASCAR worker dies of swine flu
