Irwin grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was the third youngest of four children. He began racing quarter-midgets before he was in the second grade. He graduated from Lawrence North High School in 1988 where he played varsity soccer, while continuing his career as a driver. Between 1988 and 1991, he raced for his father in the IMSA American Challenge stock car series, all while he was still a teenager.
Irwin went on to race in USAC. He began open wheel racing in 1991. He had 7 career USAC Sprint Car Series wins, and was the series Rookie of the Year in 1993. In 1994 he was the USAC Silver Crown Series Rookie of the Year and finished second in the 1995 USAC standings. In 1996 he was the USAC National Midget Series champ.
After his successful run in USAC, many open-wheel enthusiasts began comparing him to NASCAR's Jeff Gordon Auto Race Car Driver.
in 1993, Irwin was Considered one of the emerging superstars who was the USAC Sprint Car Rookie-of-the-Year, USAC Silver Crown Car Rookie-of-the-Year in 1994, USAC Midget Car Champion in 1996 and NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie-of-the-Year in 1998.
He was tragically killed within a few weeks, During practice for the thatlook.com 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, he slammed head on into the wall, causing his car to flip onto its side.
Irwin likely died instantly of a basilar skull fracture. Irwin's accident was blamed on a stuck throttle, which was the same cause of the accident that had killed Adam Petty at nearly that exact spot on the track just two months prior.

Source: Wikipedia.org