- Nelson Stacy
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Nelson Stacy Born December 28, 1921
Maysville, KentuckyDied May 14, 1986 (aged 64) Awards 1962 World 600 winner NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career 45 races run over 6 years Best finish 14th – 1963 (Grand National) First race 1952 September 21, 1952 (untitled race) (Dayton Speedway) Last race 1965 July 4, 1965 Firecracker 400 (Daytona International Speedway) First win 1961 September 4, 1961 (Southern 500) (Darlington Raceway) Last win 1962 September 23, 1962 (Old Dominion 500) (Martinsville Speedway) Wins Top tens Poles 4 24 0 Nelson Stacy (December 28, 1921 – May 14, 1986) was an American race car driver from Maysville, Kentucky.[1][2] He won the 1958, 1959, and 1960 MARC Series (now ARCA Remax Series championships.[3] He also won three NASCAR Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series) races in 1961 and 1962, including the 1961 Southern 500 at Darlington Speedway and the 1962 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.[4]
Contents
Early life
Stacy was originally from Kentucky. He was a veteran of World War II serving as a Tank Driver in the U.S. Third Army under the command of General George S. Patton.
Early career
In 1952, Stacy made his first NASCAR Grand National Series start at Dayton Speedway. After 12th place finish out of 30 cars,[5] Stacy decided it would be best to drive in the MARC Series (later the ARCA Remax Series).[3] Stacy lost the 1957 title to Iggy Katona by 4.5 points, one of the slimmest margins in series history.[6] Stacy's move enabled him to win the series championship in 1958, 1959 and 1960.[3] Stacy had wins in 1957, 1959 and 1960 at Canfield Speedway.[7] In 1959, he started out the season in April by winning two of three races (Dayton and Canfield).[8]
NASCAR career
After a decade in the MARC series, Stacy decided give Grand National racing another try. In 1961 Stacy entered back into NASCAR competition at age 40 competing in 15 of the 52 scheduled races.[9] Stacy won 1961 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway beating Fireball Roberts and leading 72 laps. He also accumulated eight Top Ten finishes and 4 Top Five finishes as well.[10]
In 1962, Stacy won the Rebel 300 at Darlington Raceway beating Marvin Panch,[11], the final convertible race in NASCAR history, as well as the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway coming from 18th place to beat Joe Weatherly[12] and the 1962 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway beating out Richard Petty by over three laps.[13] He accumulated three wins, seven Top Tens, and five Top Five finishes for the 1962 season. He also won the NASCAR Convertible Division race that year at the Darlington Rebel 300.[4]
Stacy failed to win any races in 1963; he accumulating nine Top Ten and four Top Five finishes. Stacy Finished a career-high 14th in the final points standing this year. In 1964, at age 43, Stacy's health began to become a factor and he went on to compete in two more Grand National races.[3] He achieved a 24th-place finish in his final start at the Firecracker 400 in 1965.[4] Stacey ended his NASCAR career after competing in 45 races. In his career, he had 24 Top Ten and 13 Top Five Finishes along with 4 wins.[2]
Later life and death
Stacy spent his final years in Florida where he owned a car dealership.[4] Stacy died on May 14, 1986 at the age of 64.[3]
Family life
Stacy was married to Mary Stacy. The couple had two girls and a boy.[4]
References
- ^ "Nelson Stacy". Anderson Speedway. http://www.andersonspeedway.com/little_500_drivers/stacy_nelson.htm. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Nelson Stacy career statistics". Racing Reference. http://www.racing-reference.info/driver/Nelson_Stacy. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ a b c d e "Nelson Stacy". Stacy Motorsports. http://www.stacymotorsports.com/nelson_stacy.htm. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Samples, Steve. "Nelson Stacy". Legends of NASCAR. http://www.legendsofnascar.com/Nelson_Stacy.htm. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ "1952 Dayton Speedway". Racing Reference. http://www.racing-reference.info/rquery?id=stacyne01&trk=114&series=W. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ "ARCA's Early Days, The France Connection". Automobile Racing Club of America. http://www.arcaracing.com/news.php?contentid=9415. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ "Canfield, The MARC/ARCA Story....". Toledo Speedway. http://www.toledospeedway.com/news.php?contentid=9623. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ "April Action in ARCAville Aplenty". ARCA. http://www.arcaracing.com/news.php?contentid=2925. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ "1961 NASCAR statistics". Racing Reference. http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/stacyne01/1961/W. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ "1961 Southern 500 statistics". Racing Reference. http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1961_Southern_500/W. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ "1962 Rebel 300 statistics". Racing Reference. http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1962_Rebel_300/W. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ "1962 World 600 statistics". Racing Reference. http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1962_World_600/W. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ "1962 Old Dominion 500 statistics". Racing Reference. http://www.racing-reference.info/race/1962_Old_Dominion_500/W. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
External links
- Nelson Stacy at Racing Reference
- Stacy Motorsports
- Legends of Nascar Article on Stacy
Sporting positions Preceded by
Iggy KatonaMARC Champion
1958–1960Succeeded by
Harold SmithCategories:- 1921 births
- 1986 deaths
- NASCAR drivers
- ARCA drivers
- Racecar drivers from Kentucky
- People from Mason County, Kentucky
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