I've never had a kid, so I have no idea how painful it must be to lose one.

Kids almost always survive risks they face every day, even if they drive race cars.

Spencer Clark was 19 when he died Sunday night in a crash on Interstate 40 outside of Albuquerque, N.M.

It's the second time in nine years that the future of a young Las Vegas racer with great potential was snatched away.

In 1997, Chris Trickle was racing toward a ride in one of NASCAR's premier series when an unknown assailant in another car shot him while Trickle was driving near Interstate 15 and Blue Diamond Road. Trickle died from his wounds a year later on March 25. He was 27.

The murder remains a mystery.

And we'll never know what happened Sunday night when the truck in which Spencer was riding flipped, along with the trailer that was ferrying his newest race car from Charlotte, N.C., back to his North Las Vegas home.

Spencer was ejected along with driver Andy Phillips, a former University of Hawaii football player from Phoenix who was part of Spencer's race team.

A spokesman for the New Mexico state police said its highly unlikely either would have died had seat belts been worn. We'll never know why they weren't used or what caused Phillips to lose control of the truck.

On Thursday, Spencer was eulogized, buried and celebrated. A special tribute will be held Saturday night at the start of the NASCAR Weekly Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Bullring. Spencer's No. 23 Legends Car will be driven around the track one last time in a memorial lap as other drivers stand nearby.

Spencer always will be remembered by his family -- and by the extended one he had in racing.

We watched him grow at the speedway. It's never clear when a boy becomes a man. On the track, Spencer had driven beyond his years since he was 12.

He won track championships at the Bullring and drove in his first NASCAR Busch Series race in March at the speedway.

Racers feel safe and comfortable running around a track at 160 mph or flying down a dragstrip at twice that speed. I've written too many times about drivers killed or paralyzed while racing. My heart cried for them, but I couldn't truly relate to why they put their lives in harm's way for passion or paycheck, because I'm not a racer.

I couldn't relate to the countless times racers have said they feel safer on a racetrack than on a highway.

But I understand why Spencer and his teammate weren't wearing seat belts; too many people don't wear them.

This tragedy could happen to any of us, but at times like this we see how much easier it would be to use the restraints than to force family and friends to restrain tears.

His parents, T.J. and Debbie, and sister Candice are devastated. Their hearts are ripped open in a way I don't ever want to fully understand.

I can't imagine how long it will be until their glances at Spencer's trophies, helmets and race cars will bring them even closer to him instead of widening the chasm in their broken hearts today.

One day, soon we hope, those items will be cherished reminders of countless hours the family shared getting a car ready to race the next night at the Bullring or for a trip to Irwindale, Calif., where he was scheduled to race Saturday.

They should be putting the final touches on a new race car tonight instead of on Spencer's life.

I can understand why today they can't imagine the pain ever lessening. It will, but never entirely.

The Clark family always has carried a strong faith that, at times like this, even nonbelievers wish they had. Their faith will carry them through this tragedy, and their racing family is here to help, too.

Spencer was in his final teenage year, but it didn't have to be the final year of his life.

What's done can't be undone, but a similar agonizing week for someone else's family can be prevented.

Nothing will bring Spencer back. Heading into one of the most dangerous driving weekends of the year, Spencer's memory can be honored if you can convince one person to begin using a seat belt.

Southern Nevada once again lost a son, brother, friend and racer with a great future.

Twice in nine years is two times too many.

It was safer for Spencer to be running wide open on a racetrack than riding in a truck on a freeway.

Somehow that doesn't seem right.

Jeff Wolf's motor sports column is published Friday. He can be reached at 383-0247 or jwolf@reviewjournal.com.