Richard "Dick" Trickle dead at 71

[Billy P]

I remember watching him race in the early 90's.He was very successful in short track racing in his home state of Wisconsin where he won over 1,000 races.
He was such a character that his likeness was used in Days of Thunder where Tom Cruise used the name Cole Trickle.
Here's what wikipedia wrote:

Wins in major series
1 NASCAR Winston Open (exhibition race, 1990)
2 NASCAR Busch Series wins
32 American Speed Association wins
68 ARTGO Challenge Series wins
2 NASCAR Southwest Tour wins
2 USAC wins

here's the link for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Trickle


Trickle died of an apparently self-inflicted gun shot wound yesterday in a cemetery in NC.He had called 911 and told them he was about to kill himself and where to find his body beside his 1993 pick-up truck.

[Robert Boyce]

I remember watching him race in the early 90's.He was very successful in short track racing in his home state of Wisconsin where he won over 1,000 races.
He was such a character that his likeness was used in Days of Thunder where Tom Cruise used the name Cole Trickle.
Here's what wikipedia wrote:

Wins in major series
1 NASCAR Winston Open (exhibition race, 1990)
2 NASCAR Busch Series wins
32 American Speed Association wins
68 ARTGO Challenge Series wins
2 NASCAR Southwest Tour wins
2 USAC wins

here's the link for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Trickle


Trickle died of an apparently self-inflicted gun shot wound yesterday in a cemetery in NC.He had called 911 and told them he was about to kill himself and where to find his body beside his 1993 pick-up truck.

His brother Chuck said his severe pain under his left breast caused him to commit suicide. He was in the middle of some 5 step medical procedure that doctors hoped would alleviate the pain. He was in a cemetery next to his grand daughter's grave and shot himself after calling 911 to let them know what he was about to do and where he would be. Apparently he left a note for his family. He was seeing doctors twice a day. And said his skin was hurting. Seems they didn't know what was causing it and he has many CT scans and MRI's. Maybe an autopsy can reveal something if it wasnt already know.

He was known for being one of the best if not the best short track racer. I always knew him for his name and would tease my friends about their dick trickle and that they should go see a doctor haha. He was also known for racing with a cigarette lighter in his car so he could smoke while racing haha. Dang he won the cup rookie of the year in 1989 at the age of 48 now you dont see that.

I feel for the family after all they have been thru. Read this terrible:
The Trickle family is not a stranger to tragedy. Chuck's son, Chris, was shot in 1997 and died the next year. Police never solved the case. Trickle's granddaughter, Nicole Ann Bowman, was killed in an accident in front of East Lincoln High School in 2001.

Senseless... He had a name that I will always remember even though I didnt see him race much. My first racing memory was rooting for Darrell Waltrip before Jeff Gordon. Sad story for sure. RIP DT

[Brad Duff]

I'm like you did not get to see Mr. Trickle race, but having a movie use his name pretty much (Days of Thunder) aka Cole Trickle, he was a legend in the racing industry. RIP Mr. Trickle you will be missed by all racing fans.