Never to be Forgotten

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Over the years, many competitors have left their marks on the sport through perseverance, dedication, desire and even antics, and each of them deserves to be remembered as a part of NASCAR history.

BY BEN WHITE

BRUTON SMITH: Founder of Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Speedway Motorsports empire, Bruton Smith was a visionary who contributed heavily to the growth of stock car racing over the past 75 years.

NEIL “SOAPY” CASTLES: A regular on NASCAR’s Cup Series from 1957 to 1976, Neil “Soapy” Castles entered 498 races during his career. He never celebrated a victory but finished in the top 10 178 times.

JOHN ANDRETTI: During a career from 1993 through one race in 2010, John Andretti started 393 Cup Series events and went to Victory Lane twice – at Daytona in 1997 and Martinsville in 1999.

FONTY FLOCK: An avid NASCAR campaigner from 1949 through 1957, Fonty Flock won 19 races in 154 starts. His biggest victory came in the 1952 Southern 500 at legendary Darlington Raceway.

HERB THOMAS: During a 10-year timespan, Herb Thomas collected 48 wins in 229 starts and earned three Cup Series championships. Starting in 1949, he amassed 122 top-five finishes and earned 39 poles.

NELSON STACY: Between 1952 and 1965, Nelson Stacy won four races, including the 1961 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and the 1962 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

FRANK MUNDAY: Only in NASCAR for five years, Frank Munday was one of the sport’s most colorful characters and one of its sharpest dressers. He won races in Columbia, South Carolina; Martinsville, Virginia; and Mobile, Alabama, during 1951.

BUDDY ARRINGTON: From 1964 to 1988, Buddy Arrington campaigned Plymouths and Dodges in 560 Cup Series races but never went to Victory Lane. His best finish was a fourth at Virginia’s Langley Speedway in 1965.

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