One of the most recognized and attentive journalists in the history of NASCAR was rushed to the hospital on Sunday morning after suffering a stroke.
NASCAR and its massive, wide-reaching fan base has seen his face for years, and even more folks have read his work through his reporting at The Charlotte Observer, but it wasn’t until 2015 that the racing organization itself recognized longtime reporter, Tom Higgins, with its own award for Media Excellence.
Honored during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in January 2015, Higgins was presented with the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence, and the entirety of people in attendance roared with applause at this much-deserved recognition.
Tragically, fellow NASCAR reporter Steve Waid, revealed in a tweet that Higgins had suffered a stroke and been admitted to the hospital with an unknown prognosis.
Keep longtime friend Tom Higgins in your thoughts and prayers. He suffered a stroke. Now in hospital, alert but prognosis unknown. #nascar
— Steve Waid (@stevewaid) August 13, 2017
Over the course of the next couple of days, Waid updated fans, friends, and those in the NASCAR industry as to Higgins’ condition with several tweets, and luckily the outlook seems much better than anticipated.
Update on Tom: Clot surgery not needed. Left side paralysis. Should be temporary w/ therapy. Thanks all for well wishes, confident. #nascar
— Steve Waid (@stevewaid) August 13, 2017
Update on Tom: Remains in ICU. He's alert but weak and sometimes confused. Should move tomorrow. No surgery but close observation.#nascar
— Steve Waid (@stevewaid) August 14, 2017
Update on Tom: Had a rough night. Got medications for pain, sleep. In and out but kept sense of humor. Moves when room is free. #nascar
— Steve Waid (@stevewaid) August 15, 2017
On Tom: Nurses say that doctors want him moved to his own room and that is a sign he's made improvements and no longer critical. Good#nascar
— Steve Waid (@stevewaid) August 15, 2017
Higgins’ career kicked off in the late 1950s and he quickly moved into covering racing at the Asheville Times in North Carolina. Later on, he moved to The Observer and continued penning articles about outdoors activities, adding coverage of NASCAR events into the fold, too. Since that time, his career has grown extensively and he’s become a beloved part of racing and the journalism of motorsports.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Tom Higgins and his family as he works toward a full recovery.
Watch the video interview with Higgins about his iconic NASCAR award below.