On This Day

NASCAR in History

NASCAR: Daytona 500 - NASCAR Sprint Cup

Events in Sport

  • 1947-12-14 The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is founded in Daytona Beach, Florida
  • 1948-02-21 NASCAR is incorporated
  • 1949-10-16 Red Byron in an Oldsmobile finishes 16th in the Wilkes 200 at North Wilkesboro Speedway to win NASCAR Strictly Stock C'ship in the inaugural season of pro stock car racing in the United States
  • 1950-09-04 NASCAR’s first paved super speedway, Darlington Raceway hosts Southern 500, first 500-mile event in NASCAR history; winner Johnny Mantz in a Plymouth
  • 1950-10-29 Bill Rexford in an Oldsmobile finishes 26th in the season finale at Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsboro, North Carolina to win the NASCAR Grand National Series Championship
  • 1952-07-01 The first NASCAR Grand National event is run outside of the US with Buddy Shuman winning the 200-lap race at Stamford Park, Ontario, Canada
  • 1953-09-01 Buck Baker takes lead with 10 laps remaining to win the Southern 500 at Darlington in the most competitive event in NASCAR Grand National history; four drivers swap lead a record 35 times
  • 1953-11-01 Herb Thomas, driving his own No. 92 Hudson Hornet wraps up the NASCAR Grand National Championship with 14th-place in 100-mile finale at Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway; Thomas first repeat champion of the series
  • 1954-11-01 Lee Petty with 32 top-10 finishes from 34 races wins NASCAR Grand National Championship by 283 points from Herb Thomas; Petty fails to finish season ending Wilkes 160
  • 1956-08-04 Lee Petty dismounts car on lap 32, waves red flag to field because of dusty conditions at NASCAR Grand National at Tulsa, Oklahoma; race halted and never completed
  • 1958-06-01 The Riverside International Raceway in Southern California opens with three 500-mile races in one weekend; Eddie Gray wins the Crown America 500 for NASCAR Grand National cars
  • 1959-02-22 Inaugural Daytona 500: Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp cross finish line side by side; Beauchamp declared unofficial winner; ruling overturned after 3 days by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr
  • 1962-10-28 Jo Weatherly in a Pontiac finishes 2nd to Rex White in season-ending Dixie 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway to clinch his 1st of 2 consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships

Sports History

1963-11-03 Joe Weatherly finishes 7th in the season ending Golden State 400 at Riverside International Raceway; retains NASCAR Sprint Cup by 2,228 points from 14-time winner Richard Petty

Auto Racer Richard Petty
  • 1963-12-01 Wendell Scott wins the Grand National Series Jacksonville 200 at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Florida, becoming the first black driver to win a race at NASCAR's premier level

Daytona 500

1967-02-26 9th Daytona 500: Mario Andretti wins his first and only NASCAR Grand National event; only time driver born outside the US has ever won the Great American Race

Auto Racer Mario Andretti
  • 1967-10-01 Richard Petty continues phenomenal NASCAR winning streak by taking the Wilkes 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway; unprecedented 10th consecutive victory

Sports History

1968-11-03 David Pearson is declared NASCAR Grand National champion as Cale Yarborough wins season ending Peach State 200 at Jefferson, Georgia; Pearson finishes 126 points ahead of Bobby Isaac to secure his 2nd title

Auto Racer Cale Yarborough
Auto Racer David Pearson
  • 1969-02-01 In his first start in a Ford, legendary driver Richard Petty wins the Motor Trend 500 at Riverside, California; previous 92 NASCAR victories were in Plymouths
  • 1971-08-01 Richard Petty wins the Dixie 500 in Atlanta, Georgia to become the first NASCAR driver to win $1m in career earnings
  • 1977-02-20 19th Daytona 500: Cale Yarborough wins his 2nd Great American Race; Janet Guthrie first female NASCAR Cup Series driver; finishes 12th
  • 1979-11-18 29th NASCAR Series Cup: Richard Petty is the first person to win seven times
  • 1981-11-01 Darrell Waltrip wins his 4th straight NASCAR Cup race, the American 500 at North Carolina Motor Speedway; ties Richard Petty record 1967; 12th win of season; goes on to win Winston Cup crown

Sports History

1985-09-01 Bill Elliott claims a $1 million bonus for winning 3 of the 4 crown jewel races on the NASCAR schedule: the Daytona 500, Winston 500 and Southern 500

Auto Racer Bill Elliott
  • 1986-04-30 Bill Elliott sets all-time NASCAR qualifying record, winning pole for the Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway; 212.809 mph (342.483 km/h; 44.998 seconds)
  • 1987-04-03 Bill Elliott sets NASCAR qualify record of 212.809 mph at Talladega
  • 1993-04-01 Reigning NASCAR Winston Cup champion Alan Kulwicki perishes in a private plane crash en route to Bristol for the Food City 500
  • 1994-02-20 36th Daytona 500: Sterling Marlin wins his first NASCAR race; Neil Bonnett and Rodney Orr killed in separate practice incidents
  • 1998-03-01 Mark Martin drives his Ford Taurus to victory in the inaugural NASCAR Winston Cup event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; Martin finishes 1.6 seconds ahead of teammate Jeff Burton

Sports History

1999-11-07 Dale Jarrett wins the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship

Race Car Driver Dale Jarrett
  • 2004-10-24 10 people including NASCAR driver Ricky Hendrick and 4 family members are killed in a plane crash near Martinsville Speedway in Virginia; plane owned by NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports

Sports History

2005-09-04 20-year-old Kyle Busch becomes youngest driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race when he out duels Greg Biffle in the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway

Auto Racer Kyle Busch
  • 2007-07-07 Sprint-Nextel and NASCAR announce NASCAR Nextel Cup Series renamed the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2008
  • 2008-05-17 Dale Jarrett's final race, the All-Star race, before joining ESPN's NASCAR coverage full-time
  • 2012-11-18 Brad Keselowski driving for Penske Racing finishes 5th in the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway to clinch the Nascar Sprint Cup
  • 2013-11-17 Jimmie Johnson wins the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the sixth time
  • 2014-01-29 Dale Jarrett is inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame
  • 2014-11-16 Kevin Harvick driving for Stewart-Haas Racing, wins Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Florida to claim his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series by 1 point from Ryan Newman
  • 2015-05-20 NASCAR 2016 Hall of Fame inductees: Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte and Jerry Cook

Busch's First NASCAR Win

2015-11-22 Kyle Busch driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, wins Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Florida to claim his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

NFL Head Coach and NASCAR Team Owner Joe Gibbs
Auto Racer Kyle Busch
  • 2016-11-20 Jimmie Johnson driving for Hendrick Motorsports, wins Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Florida to claim record equalling 7th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series; Richard Petty & Dale Earnhardt, 7 titles
  • 2017-02-26 59th Daytona 500: Kurt Busch wins after Kyle Larson runs out of gas on last lap; Jeffrey Earnhardt makes NASCAR history, 1st ever 4th generation driver to compete in Daytona 500
  • 2017-11-19 Martin Truex Jr., driving for Furniture Row Racing, wins Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Florida to claim Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series by 5 points from Kyle Busch
  • 2021-02-14 63rd Daytona 500: Michael McDowell navigates through fiery, final-lap pileup to claim his first career NASCAR Cup Series win in his 14th season; race delayed by rain for 6 hours after huge Lap 14 crash
  • 2021-11-07 Kyle Larson holds off Martin Truex Jr in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway to earn his 10th win of the season and claim his first Cup Series championship

Birthdays in Sport

  • 1909-09-26 Bill France, Sr., American auto racer (co-founder of NASCAR), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 1992)
  • 1911-07-14 Bill Blair, American auto racer (NASCAR pioneer; 54 top-10 finishes), born in High Point, North Carolina (d. 1995)
  • 1915-03-12 Red Byron, American auto racer (NASCAR Strictly Stock Series C'ship 1949), born in Plasterco, Virginia (d. 1960)
  • 1916-07-31 Louise Smith, American auto racer (tied for 2nd woman to race in top level NASCAR), born in Barnesville, Georgia (d. 2006)
  • 1918-09-18 Johnny Mantz, American auto racer (Southern 500, 1950, first 500-mile race in NASCAR history), born in Hebron, Indiana (d. 1972)
  • 1919-03-04 Buck Baker, American auto racer (Grand National Series Champion 1956. 57; NASCAR Speedway Div Champion 1952), born in Charlotte, North Carolina (d. 2002)
  • 1921-08-29 Wendell Scott, American auto racer (first black driver to win a race at NASCAR's premier level [Jacksonville 200 1963]), born in Danville, Virginia (d. 1990)
  • 1922-05-29 Joe Weatherly, American auto racer (NASCAR Sprint Cup champion 1962-63), born in Norfolk, Virginia (d. 1964)
  • 1924-04-12 Curtis Turner, American auto racer (184 NASCAR races over 17 years, 17 wins), born in Floyd, Virginia (d. 1970)
  • 1925-10-02 Paul Goldsmith, American auto and motorcycle racer (USAC stock car champion 1961-62; 127 NASCAR starts, 9 wins), born in Parkersburg, West Virginia
  • 1926-06-01 Darel Dieringer, American auto racer (181 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races for 7 wins and 79 top 10 finishes), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 1989)
  • 1926-10-10 Ralph Liguori, American auto racer (NASCAR Grand National Series 30 x Top 10; 5 x Top 5 finishes), born in New York City (d. 2020)
  • 1927-03-03 Bruton Smith, American motor sports promoter and owner (CEO NASCAR; track owner Speedway Motorsports, Inc.), born in Oakboro, North Carolina (d. 2022)
  • 1927-03-14 Bill Rexford, American auto racer (NASCAR Grand National Series championship 1950, youngest Cup champion [23]), born in Conewango Valley, New York (d. 1994)
  • 1929-01-20 Glenn "Fireball" Roberts, American auto racer (Daytona 500 1962; NASCAR 33 wins), born in Tavares, Florida (d. 1964)

Stirling Moss (1929-2020)

1929-09-17 British auto racer (16 x F1 Grand Prix; World F1 Drivers C'ship runner-up 1955-58; 12 Hours of Sebring 1954) and broadcaster (ABC F1, NASCAR), born in London, England

Stirling Moss
  • 1931-06-28 Junior Johnson, American auto racer and team owner (Daytona 500 1960; NASCAR Hall of Fame), born in Wilkes County, North Carolina (d. 2019)
  • 1932-01-03 Coo Coo Marlin, American auto racer (NASCAR nine top 5, 51 top 10 finishes in 165 Winston Cup starts), born in Columbia, Tennessee (d. 2005)
  • 1932-02-14 Banjo Matthews, American auto racing constructor (72% of winning cars in top NASCAR division 1974-85; 262 wins in 362 Cup races), born in Akron, Ohio (d. 1996)
  • 1932-10-12 Ned Jarrett, American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series 1961, 65; Motorsports HOF of America) and broadcaster (CBS, ESPN, TNN, FSN), born in Conover, North Carolina
  • 1933-04-04 Bill France, Jr., NASCAR pioneer, born in Washington, D.C. (d. 2007)
  • 1934-10-01 Neil Castles, American auto racer (NASCAR Grand National East Series Champion 1972; NASCAR Cup Series 51 x top 5, 178 x top 10 finishes), born in Charlotte, North Carolina (d. 2022)

David Pearson (1934-2018)

1934-12-22 American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series C'ship 1966, 68, 69; NASCAR Rookie of the Year 1960; Daytona 500 1976), born in Spartanburg, South Carolina

David Pearson
  • 1935-04-10 Ken Squier, American sportscaster (NASCAR on CBS, TBS 1983–99; first lap-by-lap commentary of Daytona 500 1979), born in Waterbury, Vermont (d. 2023)
  • 1936-12-28 Jack Ingram, American auto racer (NASCAR Busch Series champion 1982, 1985), born in Asheville, North Carolina (d. 2021)

Richard Petty (86 years old)

1937-07-02 American auto racer (7 x NASCAR Championship, 7 x Daytona 500), born in Level Cross, North Carolina

Richard Petty
  • 1938-03-07 Janet Guthrie, American auto racer (1st woman to race in Indianapolis 500 & Daytona 500; first woman to lead a lap in NASCAR Winston Cup Series), born in Iowa City, Iowa
  • 1938-07-26 Buddy Arrington, American auto racer (NASCAR Winston Cup Series 103 x top 10 finishes), born in Martinsville, Virginia (d. 2022)
  • 1938-12-05 J. D. McDuffie, American auto racer (653 x NASCAR Cup Series races; 106 x top-10 finishes), born in Upper Little River Township, North Carolina (d. 1991)

Cale Yarborough (1939-2023)

1939-03-27 American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series 1976, 77, 78; Daytona 500 1968, 77, 83, 84), born in Timmonsville, South Carolina [1]

Cale Yarborough
  • 1939-03-27 Maurice Petty, American auto racing crew chief, engine builder and team owner (Petty Enterprises, International Motorsports & NASCAR Hall of Fame), born in Level Cross, North Carolina (d. 2020)
  • 1940-01-10 Harry Gant, American race car driver, born in Taylorsville, North Carolina

Joe Gibbs (83 years old)

1940-11-25 American Pro Football HOF coach (Super Bowl 1982, 87, 91 Washington Redskins; NFL Coach of the Year 1982, 83) and auto race team owner (5 × NASCAR Cup Series), born in Mocksville, North Carolina

Joe Gibbs
  • 1941-01-25 Buddy Baker, American auto racer (Daytona 500 1980; 19 x NASCAR Cup Series wins), born in Florence, South Carolina (d. 2015)
  • 1941-03-01 Dave Marcis, American auto racer (NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1975 runner-up; 5 career wins, 94 top-fives and 222 top-tens), born in Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 1941-07-23 Richie Evans, American auto racer (9 x NASCAR Modified Champion 1973, 78-85), born in Westernville, New York (d. 1985)
  • 1941-10-27 Dick Trickle, American auto racer (7 x ARTGO C'ships, ASA AC-Delco Challenge C'ship 1984, 85; NASCAR Rookie of the Year 1989), born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin (d. 2013)
  • 1943-04-19 Robert Yates, American auto racing team owner and engine builder (Yates Racing, NASCAR), born in Charlotte, North Carolina (d. 2017)
  • 1945-09-21 Richard Childress, NASCAR team owner

Darrell Waltrip (77 years old)

1947-02-05 American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series 1981, 82, 85; Daytona 500 1989; winner 84 x NASCAR Cup Series races) and broadcaster (Fox Sports), born in Owensboro, Kentucky

Darrell Waltrip
  • 1947-09-04 Bob Jenkins, American television and radio sports announcer (IndyCar & NASCAR telecasts for ESPN/ABC, NBC Sports), born in Richmond, Indiana (d. 2021)
  • 1949-07-12 Rick Hendrick, American NASCAR team owner (Hendrick Motorsports; 7 x NASCAR Cup Series titles), born in Palmer Springs, Virginia
  • 1950-08-11 Glenn Jarrett, American auto racer (67 x NASCAR starts) and broadcaster (TNN, Speed Channel. MRN), born in Conover, North Carolina

Dale Earnhardt (1951-2001)

1951-04-29 American auto racer (7 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championships), born in Kannapolis, North Carolina

Dale Earnhardt
  • 1954-05-01 Randy Dorton, American race car engine builder (Director of Engine Operations Hendrick Motorsports; 9 x NASCAR C'ships), born in Concord, North Carolina (d. 2004)
  • 1954-12-14 Alan Kulwicki, American auto racer and owner (NASCAR Winston Cup drivers' and owners' champion 1992), born in Greenfield, Wisconsin (d. 1993)
  • 1955-08-13 Hideo Fukuyama, Japanese racing driver (first Japanese to compete in NASCAR's top series), born in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan
  • 1956-08-14 Rusty Wallace, American auto racer (NASCAR Winston Cup 1989; NASCAR Cup series Rookie of the Year 1984) and broadcaster (ESPN, ABC), born in Arnold, Missouri
  • 1956-09-12 Ricky Rudd, American auto racer (NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year 1977; IROC Champion 1992; Brickyard 400 1997, born in Norfolk County, Virginia
  • 1956-11-16 Terry Labonte, American NASCAR driver

Dale Jarrett (67 years old)

1956-11-26 American auto racer (Daytona 500 1993, 96, 2000; NASCAR Winston Cup Series 1999) and broadcaster (ESPN, ABC, NBC), born in Conover, North Carolina

Dale Jarrett
  • 1957-03-04 Rick Mast, American auto racer (9 x race wins NASCAR Xfinity Series, 5 poles, 95 top 10), born in Rockbridge Baths, Virginia
  • 1957-06-30 Sterling Marlin, American race car driver (NASCAR), born in Columbia, Tennessee
  • 1958-05-20 Mike Stefanik, American auto racer (9 NASCAR Modified Championships), born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts (d. 2019)
  • 1959-09-28 Ron Fellows, Canadian auto racer (24 Hours of Le Mans GTS Class 2002, 02; 4 x NASCAR), born in Windsor, Ontario
  • 1961-09-24 Allen Bestwick, American Nascar broadcaster, born in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 1963-03-12 John Andretti, American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series: 2 wins, 37 top tens, 4 poles), born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (d. 2020)
  • 1963-06-27 Johnny Benson Jr., American NASCAR driver, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • 1963-11-03 Shigeaki Hattori, Japanese auto racer and team owner (Hattori Racing Enterprises: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 2018), born in Okayama, Okayama
  • 1965-10-19 Brad Daugherty, American basketball center (5 x NBA All-Star; Cleveland Cavaliers), NASCAR team owner (JTG Daugherty Racing, winner Daytona 500 2023) and broadcaster (ESPN, NBC, CBS), born in Black Mountain, North Carolina
  • 1966-05-24 Ricky Craven, American NASCAR driver, born in Newburgh, Maine
  • 1969-08-05 Kenny Irwin Jr., American auto racer (USAC National Midget Champion 1996; NASCAR 87 starts), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 2000)
  • 1970-03-12 John Nemechek, American NASCAR driver (d. 1997)
  • 1970-11-07 Andy Houston, American NASCAR driver, born in Hickory, North Carolina
  • 1971-01-01 Scott Riggs, American auto racer (NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year 2002), born in Bahama, North Carolina
  • 1971-08-04 Jeff Gordon, American auto racer (Winston Cup Series 1995, 97, 98, 2001; Daytona 500 1997, 99, 2005) and broadcaster (Fox NASCAR), born in Vallejo, California
  • 1974-10-10 Dale Earnhardt Jr., American auto racer, team owner and broadcaster (Daytona 500 2004, 14; Busch Series 1998-99), born in Kannapolis, North Carolina
  • 1975-04-30 Elliott Sadler, American race car driver and 1 of 31 drivers to have a victory in NASCAR's three top racing series, born in Emporia, Virginia
  • 1975-09-17 Jimmie Johnson, American auto racer (7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion), born in El Cajon, California
  • 1975-12-08 Kevin Harvick, American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series Champion 2014), born in Bakersfield, California
  • 1976-03-01 Travis Kvapil, American auto racer (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion 2003), born in Janesville, Wisconsin
  • 1976-06-03 Jamie McMurray, American NASCAR driver, born in Joplin, Missouri
  • 1976-09-01 Marcos Ambrose, Australian auto racer (Australian V8 Supercar Series' C'ship 2003, 04; first Australian driver to win in NASCAR Cup Series [2 wins, 46 top-10s, 3 poles), born in Launceston, Australia
  • 1977-12-08 Ryan Newman, American NASCAR driver, born in South Bend, Indiana
  • 1978-03-12 Casey Mears, American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series 1 win, 51 Top 10s, 3 Poles) and broadcaster (NASCAR analyst Fox Sports 1), born in Bakersfield, California
  • 1979-06-05 Jason White, American NASCAR driver, born in Richmond, Virginia
  • 1979-08-15 Carl Edwards, American NASCAR driver
  • 1980-04-02 Ricky Hendrick, American auto racer and team owner (NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series 1 win, 23 top 10s), born in Charlotte, North Carolina (d. 2004)
  • 1980-06-29 Martin Truex Jr, American auto racer (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion 2017), born in Mayetta, New Jersey
  • 1980-07-10 Adam Petty, American auto racer (son of Kyle Petty; death leads to NASCAR mandate of steering wheel kill switch), born in Trenton, New Jersey (d. 2000)
  • 1980-08-21 Paul Menard, American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver, born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
  • 1981-02-26 Kertus Davis, American auto racer (competition director NASCAR team JD Motorsports), born in Gaffney, South Carolina
  • 1981-03-23 Erin Crocker, American NASCAR driver
  • 1984-02-12 Brad Keselowski, American auto racer (NASCAR Xfinity Series 2010; NASCAR Cup Series 2012), born in Rochester Hills, Michigan

Kyle Busch (38 years old)

1985-05-02 American auto racer, (NASCAR Cup Series Champion 2015), born in Las Vegas, Nevada

Kyle Busch
  • 1987-10-02 Ricky Stenhouse Jr, American auto racer (NASCAR Nationwide Series champion 2011-12; Daytona 500 2023), born in Memphis, Tennessee
  • 1992-07-31 Kyle Larson, American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series Championship 2021; 24 Hours of Daytona 2015), born in Elk Grove, California
  • 1993-10-08 Bubba Wallace, American NASCAR racer, born in Mobile, Alabama
  • 1997-11-29 William Byron Jr., American auto racer (Daytona 500 2024; NASCAR Xfinity Series C'ship 2017), born in Charlotte, North Carolina

Weddings in Sport

  • 2006-07-27 NASCAR driver Kurt Busch (27) weds Eva Bryan in Eastville, Virginia
  • 2006-11-07 NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon (38) weds Belgian model and actress Ingrid Vandebosch (36) at the Hacienda de San Antonio Resort in Colima, Mexico
  • 2006-12-27 Supermodel Niki Taylor (31) weds NASCAR driver Burney Lamar (26) at The Grande Colonial Hotel in La Jolla, California

Kyle Busch

2010-12-31 NASCAR driver and team owner Kyle Busch (25) weds model Samantha Sarcinella at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago

Kyle Busch

Deaths in Sport

  • 1960-11-11 Red Byron, American auto racer (NASCAR Strictly Stock Series C'ship 1949), dies from a heart attack at 45
  • 1964-01-19 Joe Weatherly, American auto racer (NASCAR Sprint Cup champion 1962-63), dies of head injuries in race crash at 41
  • 1964-07-02 Glenn "Fireball" Roberts, American auto racer (Daytona 500 1962; NASCAR 33 wins), dies from injuries in May 24 crash at 35
  • 1970-10-04 Curtis Turner, American auto racer (184 NASCAR races over 17 years, 17 wins), dies in aeroplane crash at 46
  • 1972-10-25 Johnny Mantz, American auto racer (Southern 500, 1950, first 500-mile race in NASCAR history), dies in a car accident at 54
  • 1984-12-07 Lonnie "LeeRoy" Yarbrough, American race car (Nascar) driver, dies of head injury from a fall at 46
  • 1985-10-24 Richie Evans, American auto racer (9 x NASCAR Modified Champion 1973, 78-85), dies in practice accident at 44
  • 1989-08-13 Tim Richmond, American race car driver (won 13 NASCAR races), dies of AIDS at 34
  • 1989-10-28 Darel Dieringer, American auto racer (181 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races for 7 wins and 79 top 10 finishes), dies at 63
  • 1990-12-23 Wendell Scott, American auto racer (first black driver to win a race at NASCAR's premier level [Jacksonville 200 1963]), dies from spinal cancer at 69
  • 1991-08-11 J. D. McDuffie, American auto racer (653 x NASCAR Cup Series races; 106 x top-10 finishes), dies in a race accident at 52
  • 1992-06-07 Bill France, Sr., American auto racer (co-founder of NASCAR), dies of Alzheimer's disease at 82
  • 1993-04-01 Alan Kulwicki, American auto racer and owner (NASCAR Winston Cup drivers' and owners' champion 1992), dies in plane crash at 38
  • 1994-04-18 Bill Rexford, American auto racer (NASCAR Grand National Series championship 1950, youngest Cup champion [23]), dies at 67
  • 1995-11-02 Bill Blair, American auto racer (NASCAR pioneer; 54 top-10 finishes), dies at 84
  • 1996-10-02 Banjo Matthews, American auto racing constructor (72% of winning cars in top NASCAR division 1974-85; 262 wins in 362 Cup races), dies of heart and respiratory disease at 64
  • 2000-05-12 Adam Petty, American auto racer (son of Kyle Petty; death leads to NASCAR mandate of steering wheel kill switch), dies in practice session accident at 19
  • 2000-07-07 Kenny Irwin, Jr., American auto racer (USAC National Midget Champion 1996; NASCAR 87 starts), dies in a crash during practice at 30

Dale Earnhardt (1951-2001)

2001-02-18 American auto racer (7 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championships), dies in crash during Daytona 500 at 49

Dale Earnhardt
  • 2002-04-14 Buck Baker, American auto racer (Grand National Series Champion 1956. 57; NASCAR Speedway Div Champion 1952), dies at 83
  • 2004-10-24 Randy Dorton, American race car engine builder (Director of Engine Operations Hendrick Motorsports; 9 x NASCAR C'ships), dies in a plane crash at 50
  • 2004-10-24 Ricky Hendrick, American auto racer and team owner (NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series 1 win, 23 top 10s), dies in plane crash at 24
  • 2005-08-14 Coo Coo Marlin, American NASCAR race car driver, dies at 73
  • 2006-04-15 Louise Smith, American auto racer (tied for 2nd woman to race in top level NASCAR), dies of cancer at 89
  • 2007-01-07 Bobby Hamilton, American NASCAR driver and team owner, dies of cancer at 49
  • 2007-06-04 Bill France, Jr., NASCAR pioneer, dies of lung cancer at 74
  • 2009-06-09 Dick May, Former NASCAR racecar driver
  • 2013-05-16 Dick Trickle, American auto racer (7 x ARTGO C'ships, ASA AC-Delco Challenge C'ship 1984, 85; NASCAR Rookie of the Year 1989), dies by self inflicted gunshot at 71
  • 2015-08-10 Buddy Baker, American auto racer (Daytona 500 1980; 19 x NASCAR Cup Series wins), dies at 74
  • 2017-10-02 Robert Yates, American auto racing team owner and engine builder (Yates Racing, NASCAR), dies from cancer at 74

David Pearson (1934-2018)

2018-11-12 American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series C'ship 1966, 68, 69; NASCAR Rookie of the Year 1960; Daytona 500 1976), dies at 83

David Pearson
  • 2019-09-15 Mike Stefanik, American auto racer (9 NASCAR Modified Championships), dies in a plane crash at 61
  • 2019-12-20 Junior Johnson, American auto racer and team owner (Daytona 500 1960; NASCAR Hall of Fame), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 88
  • 2020-01-30 John Andretti, American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series: 2 wins, 37 top tens, 4 poles), dies from colon cancer at 56

Stirling Moss (1929-2020)

2020-04-12 British auto racer (16 x F1 Grand Prix; World F1 Drivers C'ship runner-up 1955-58; 12 Hours of Sebring 1954) and broadcaster (ABC F1, NASCAR), dies at 90

Stirling Moss
  • 2020-07-21 Ralph Liguori, American auto racer (NASCAR Grand National Series 30 x Top 10; 5 x Top 5 finishes), dies at 93
  • 2020-07-25 Maurice Petty, American auto racing crew chief, engine builder and team owner (Petty Enterprises, International Motorsports & NASCAR Hall of Fame), dies at 81
  • 2021-06-25 Jack Ingram, American auto racer (NASCAR Busch Series champion 1982, 1985), dies at 84
  • 2021-08-09 Bob Jenkins, American television and radio sports announcer (IndyCar & NASCAR telecasts ESPN/ABC, NBC Sports), dies from brain cancer at 73
  • 2022-06-22 Bruton Smith, American motor sports promoter and owner (CEO NASCAR; track owner Speedway Motorsports, Inc.), dies at 95
  • 2022-08-02 Buddy Arrington, American auto racer (NASCAR Winston Cup Series 103 x top 10 finishes), dies at 84
  • 2022-08-04 Neil Castles, American auto racer (NASCAR Grand National East Series Champion 1972; NASCAR Cup Series 51 x top 5, 178 x top 10 finishes), dies at 87
  • 2023-11-15 Ken Squier, American sportscaster (NASCAR on CBS, TBS 1983–99; first lap-by-lap commentary of Daytona 500 1979), dies of an intestinal blockage at 88

Cale Yarborough (1939-2023)

2023-12-31 American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series 1976, 77, 78; Daytona 500 1968, 77, 83, 84), dies at 84 [1]

Cale Yarborough


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