Joe Weatherly
| Born | May 29, 1922 | ||||||
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| Hometown |  Norfolk, Virginia |
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| Died | January 19, 1964 (aged 41) | ||||||
| Cause of death | racing crash | ||||||
| Achievements | 1962 Grand National Champion
1963 Grand National Champion 1952 and 1953 NASCAR Modified National Champion 3 American Motorcycle Association championships |
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| Awards | Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998) 2009 inductee into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America[1] |
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| NASCAR Sprint Cup Series statistics | |||||||
| 230 races run over 12 years | |||||||
| Best cup position | 1st - 1962, 1963 (Grand National) | ||||||
| First race | 1952 Southern 500 (Darlington) | ||||||
| Last race | 1964 Motor Trend 500 (Riverside) | ||||||
| First win | 1958 Nashville 200 (Nashville) | ||||||
| Last win | 1963 unknown race (Hillsboro) | ||||||
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Joe Weatherly (May 29, 1922 - January 19, 1964) was a two-time NASCAR championship driver. Weatherly was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009 after winning NASCAR's Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) championships in 1962 and 1963, three American Motorcyclist Association titles, and two NASCAR Modified championships.
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Personality
Weatherly enjoyed behaving outrageously. He once took practice laps wearing a Peter Pan suit. Moreover, he frequently stayed out partying until the early hours, usually with fellow driver and good time buddy Curtis Turner [1].
Motorcycle career
He won three American Motorcycle Association (AMA) nationals between 1946 and 1950, including the prestigious Laconia Classic 100 Mile road race in 1948. In 1998 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
NASCAR career
Weatherly began racing cars in 1950. "Little Joe" won the first modified event that he entered. He won 49 of the 83 car races that he entered that season. In 1952 he won the NASCAR Modified National crown, and he again won 49 of 83 car races that he entered. Weatherly won 52 more races in 1953, and won the Modified National crown again.
Weatherly had partial interest in what would later be called Richmond International Raceway from 1955 to 1956.
In 1956 he moved into the NASCAR Grand National series (now Sprint Cup.) He drove a Ford car for Pete DePaolo Engineering.
In 1957 he drove for Holman-Moody.
Weatherly won NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award in 1961.
He won two consecutive championships in 1962 and 1963 for Bud Moore Engineering. Moore didn't have enough resources to run the full season, so Weatherly frequently "bummed a ride".
Death
He died on January 19, 1964 from head injuries sustained in a racing accident at the fifth race of the 1964 season at Riverside International Raceway. His head went outside the car and struck a retaining wall. He is the only reigning champ of what is now known as the Sprint Cup to be killed on the track while defending his title. (1992 champion Alan Kulwicki died in 1993, but he was killed in a plane accident.)
This tragedy eventually led NASCAR to mandate the window net, seven years later in 1971. Window nets are used in most stockcar racing series to this day.
He is buried in Norfolk, and has (as a final joke) Riverside Raceway on his headstone.
Awards
He was named him one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009.[1]
References
- ^ a b "The Class of 2009". AutoWeek (Detroit, Michigan: Crain Communications) 59 (17): 62. August 24, 2009. ISSN 0192-9674.
External links
- joeweatherly.com
- Driver's statistics at racing-reference.info
- 1964: Tragic year for NASCAR
- Motorcycle Hall of Fame
| Preceded by Ned Jarrett 1961 |
NASCAR Grand National Champion 1962-1963 |
Succeeded by Richard Petty 1964 |
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