Freak Nation, we lost a big gun today. A heart attack took away witty motorsports writer and keeper of all that is NASCAR, David Poole.

Charlotte Observer, Sirius and many other media outlets were platforms for him to blast his Poole'isms.

I am not going to go into a long litany of what he meant to motorsports and SpeedFreaks. That's for those who really know how to paint up a picture for colorful goodbyes.

Poole was full Freak. Earnhardt, Johnson, Stewart and Gordon all paid their dues and showed relentless respect for Poole.

He set the stage for what a lot of us tend to think we established ourselves. Nope. Poole was the man with his hand on the spoon to stir the drink of irreverence in motorsports.

The Freaks have railed against the motorsports media implementation of itself for almost nine years but Poole was not one of them.

He was his own self and within his own margin. He knew when to bounce and how to bounce in between the madness all the while giving us a ride with him.

DP, you are missed. I should have given you a hug when we saw you at Texas Motor Speedway April 4. Not the obligatory handshake but a hug to say thanks.

Now go kick some more ass in your new home.

Give a listen to the last time we had the legend on SpeedFreaks' Spanning The Freak Nation April 5, he's the last of the audio piece, as in best for last:

Listen to David Poole NOW!

“David Poole was as much a fixture in this sport as the actual cars themselves. As someone fortunate enough to make a living doing what I love, I am indebted to David for the exposure he generated for our sport for 13 years, and the direct connection he had with the NASCAR fan base. He was a one-of-a-kind individual and an extremely talented writer. Our condolences go out to David’s family and friends. He will be missed.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“I am shocked and saddened to hear the news that our sport has lost David Poole. My thoughts go out to his family. He was someone who loved our sport and wasn’t afraid to voice his opinion. That’s what made him one of the most respected members of our media. I know I worked twice as hard to make sure I earned his respect. I am proud of what he has done for our sport and I know he will be truly missed by everyone in NASCAR.” – Jimmie Johnson

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to David's family. He was a friend of everybody in the garage area. He could be controversial from time to time but he always wrote and spoke what he believed. He didn't pull any punches with anybody and that's what people respected about him. He was good for the sport and will be missed.” – Richard Childress, President and CEO Richard Childress Racing

“David worked his ass off for our sport, whether it was in his writing or on his radio show. His life revolved around the sport and we're obviously very saddened by the loss. He will be missed.” – Clint Bowyer

“The NASCAR community is stunned and saddened by the loss of David Poole. David was as passionate about NASCAR as anyone and had very definitive opinions about the sport. He served the industry, and most importantly the fans, through his reporting and commentary in the Charlotte Observer and Sirius Satellite Radio. Our thoughts and prayers go out to David’s family and friends. He will be missed.” – NASCAR's Brian France