| Joe Weatherly | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Weatherly in 1958 | |||||||
| Born | Joseph Herbert Weatherly (1922-05-29)May 29, 1922 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | January 19, 1964(1964-01-19) (aged 41) Riverside, California, U.S. | ||||||
| Cause of death | Racing crash atRiverside International Raceway | ||||||
| Achievements |
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| Awards |
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| NASCARCup Series career | |||||||
| 230 races run over 12 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 1st (1962,1963) | ||||||
| First race | 1952Southern 500 (Darlington) | ||||||
| Last race | 1964Motor Trend 500 (Riverside) | ||||||
| First win | 1958Nashville 200 (Nashville) | ||||||
| Last win | 1963 untitled race (Hillsboro) | ||||||
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| NASCARConvertible Division career | |||||||
| 96 races run over 4 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 2nd (1957) | ||||||
| First race | 1956 Race #1 (Daytona Beach & Road Course) | ||||||
| Last race | 1959 Race #15 (Charlotte Fairgrounds) | ||||||
| First win | 1956 Race #26 (Buffalo) | ||||||
| Last win | 1959 Race #7 (Occoneechee) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of April 15, 2013. | |||||||
Joseph Herbert Weatherly (May 29, 1922 – January 19, 1964) was an Americanstock car racing driver. Weatherly was inducted into theMotorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009 after winningNASCAR'sGrand National Series championships in 1962 and 1963, threeAMA Grand National Championships, and two NASCAR Modified championships.
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 friendCurtis Turner. This behavior earned him the nickname the "Clown Prince of Racing". In 1956 atRaleigh, while racing in the convertible series, Weatherly's engine blew. With the help ofRalph Liguori pushing from behind, he displayed showmanship to the fullest extent by crossing the finish line while standing in a "chariot of fire".[2]
He won threeAmerican Motorcycle Association (AMA) nationals between 1946 and 1950, including the prestigiousLaconia Classic 100 Mileroad race in 1948. In 1998 he was inducted into the AMAMotorcycle Hall of Fame.
Weatherly began racing cars in 1950. "Little Joe" won the firstmodified event that he entered. He won 49 of the 83 car races that he entered that season. In 1952 he won theNASCARModified 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 a partial interest in what would later be calledRichmond International Raceway from 1955 to 1956.
In 1956 he moved into the NASCARGrand National series. He drove a factory-sponsored Ford car[2] forPete DePaolo Engineering. For the next two seasons, Weatherly drove forHolman Moody.[2]
In 1959, Weatherly recorded six top-5 finishes and ten top-10s. He narrowly lost the1959 Hickory 250 toJunior Johnson; being out lapped twice before the race was concluded.
Weatherly wonNASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award in 1961.
He won two consecutive championships, in 1962 and1963, forBud Moore Engineering. Moore did not have enough resources to run the full season, so Weatherly frequently "bummed a ride".
Weatherly died on January 19, 1964, from head injuries sustained in a racing accident at the fifth race of the 1964 season, atRiverside International Raceway. His head went outside the car and struck a retaining wall, killing him instantly. Weatherly was not wearing a shoulder harness and did not have a window net installed on his vehicle, because he was afraid of being trapped in a burning car.[2]
Weatherly was the first driver to die during the season after winning the Cup Series championship; since his death, this has occurred just one other time, as 1992 series championAlan Kulwicki lost his life early in the 1993 season. Unlike Weatherly, who died in a racing accident, Kulwicki was killed in a plane crash.
Weatherly's fatal crash, combined withRichard Petty's crash atDarlington in 1970, eventually led NASCAR to mandate the window net seven years later, in 1971.
Weatherly's grave marker is a sculpture of Riverside Raceway, with a checkered flag marking the spot of his fatal crash.[3]
He was inducted into theMotorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.[4]
He was named one ofNASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
He was inducted into theMotorsports Hall of Fame of America[5] in 2009.
Weatherly was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 30, 2015.
He was named one ofNASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | E. C. Wilson | Chevy | 7 | 5 |
| 1960 | Holman-Moody | Ford | 7 | 41 |
| 1961 | Bud Moore Engineering | Pontiac | 2 | 2 |
| 1962 | 4 | 3 | ||
| 1963 | 26 | 8 |
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ned Jarrett 1961 | NASCAR Grand National Champion 1962–1963 | Succeeded by Richard Petty 1964 |