Chris Wertman RIP

[John Lang]

David, To you also my Prayers , for your losing your son and friend, and I wish you the best Luck with your ongoing health problems !.......John

[Wade Mahaffey]

Best wishes to David and all of the family. As a retired career firefighter I know about fire behavior. When I see an incident where an able bodied man is not able to escape, I think that it could have been alot worse if kids or elderly had been there as well. I would like to see all of our racing community check their smoke detectors/alarms, replace that battery, practice fire safety, and do drills with the children. I have some very good information for fire safety. (Send me a PM). There could be many things that caused this fire tragedy, I feel that a combination of things/events led to this fatal fire.

Wade Mahaffey

[Andys dad]

Unbelievable

Life is fragile

You never know

Spend your time wisely with your famaily and friends

Cherish every day

Chris you will be missed here but most of all by your children

[Larry Curtis]

Our thoughts and wishes go out to David and the Wertman family. It saddens me deeply when someone has to bury their son or daughter. Chris will be missed.


Larry And Heather Curtis
Chuck and Diane Lofgren

[Rory McNeil]

Like most on this board, I imagine, I never met or conversed with Drooze, but he sure stirred up this site in the short time he was on it, didn`t he? With all the mishaps (broken engines, missed races, and "light" scales), he just smiled and kept on truckin`, when most would have thrown in the towel. Chris may have been contraversial, but never boring! My condolances to his family & friends.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by NewHemi

My sincere thanks to all who posted here. Chris was indeed a unique individual and my best friend, as well as my only child.

Most people will never know how truly brilliant he was, and he always flavored that intelligence with wit and humor. He could see things from a perspective that was indeed unique, and he was never afraid to step into the unknown as he learned a great deal from every life experience, good or bad.

He was a dedicated son and even more dedicated father. Continue to pray for his children. 13 year old David Michael Wertman is expecially hard hit by the loss. Max, 6 years old and Isabella, also know that Dad is gone, but don't have the perspective to understand what that really means. Some of the sting is muted by the time over the last couple of weeks that David Michael was with chris, and the last week the two younger ones were also. At least they have that time as a memory to hold for all time.

Nobody expects their children to go before them. And as have been observed here, the truth is that Nobody is promised tomorrow. Live every day as if it is your last. It may be. Make sure that the ones you love, know that you love them every day. Apologize to everyone you have wronged, and forgive everyone who has wronged you. Even if you live forever, life is still too short. Live it as fully as you can.

Drag Pak #24 was largely a product of Chris' efforts. And it will go forward as long as I can keep it going. We still need to get down the track competively, but have no fear, that is about to happen. We will start laying down records and living up to everything that Chris said.

I faced my own mortality when diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, and can face this only though my faith in God, through my savior Jesus Christ. That doesn't mean that it is easy, but it does mean that I am not alone in my grief! He is with me.

Thanks again for your thoughs, good wishes, and prayers.

David

David,

May God Bless You and your loved ones.
Only the Lord can fill the void in your heart with His Love and Comfort.

There is no pain like the loss of a child. Been there myself when I experienced the loss of my oldest son 5 years ago.
There are others here in this community that also have experienced the loss of a child and we are all here for you and your family anytime you need us.
God Bless.

[JP]

Wow...what a sad day...

[Bobby DiDomenico]

Had hoped to get to Indy this year and meet him, would have been an interesting conversation I'm sure. Having older friends who have lost children from birth thru 60, it is never easy. He will be missed.

[Jared Jordan]

At first, I thought this was another joke. Stunned doesn't even begin to describe the way I'm feeling right now.

I admired Drooze's competitive spirit from afar and had hoped to meet him someday. My condolences go out to his family and friends.

[Kenny Wigington]

Absolutely shocked. What a loss for his family. David, and Mandie, we are all truly sorry for the hole you feel now. I laughed at him, and with him at some of his stuff, but enjoyed it all. Prayers for his children, from my house, too.

He's likely the best dressed one in the staging lanes there, from the Award in Denver !

RIP Chris !