This Week In NASCAR History (1/4/16 Edition)

What happened in NASCAR history this week? You have come to the right place to find out the answer to that question.

This week in NASCAR history is a new Segment by Beyond The Flag, where we explore the rich history of NASCAR and discuss some of the events that shaped the sport. These could be anything from notable birthdays, Key victories, monumental events, and the deaths that shook the sport to its very foundation.

Get ready for this week’s high speed history lesson as we take a look at a promising driver, who was taken way too soon.

January 4th, 1965

On this day in 1965, stock car driver, Billy Wade was killed during a tire test at Daytona International Raceway. Wade was participating in a Goodyear tire test, when one of his tires abruptly blew out and caused him to violently crash into the west gate of the track. He ultimately died as a result of his injuries at the young age of 34.

After Wade’s death in 1965 Goodyear Tire and Rubber company started to work on a safety liner that would keep the inner liner inflated in case of a blowout at high speeds. This invention would become crucial as NASCAR was beginning its transition from dirt track, to asphalt tracks with increasingly high speeds involved.

Wade was the NASCAR rookie of the year in 1963 for car owner, Cotton Owens, and went on to win four straight races the very next year for Bud Moore Engineering. To this day, Wade remains the only driver in NASCAR history to win four straight races in the course of a nine day period. Wade won the last race of his career on July 19^th1964 at Watkins Glen.

Billy Wade was the 6th driver to be killed at Daytona International Raceway and was the first driver to lose his life at the track in over six years. The first driver to be killed at the superspeedway was Marshall Teague, who was performing a speed run in a reconfigured Indycar at time. The incident occurred when the high speeds of his racer caused it to spin out and flip end over end. Teague was ejected from his racer during the crash and was killed instantly.

Before his tragic passing at Daytona International Speedway in 1965, Wade had earned 4 wins, 41 Top-Ten’s and five poles in his short career.

in total Daytona International Speedway has claimed the life of 14 individuals over the course of 50 years. The only other track that comes remotely close to that number is Charlotte Motor Speedway, where six people lost their lives between the years of 1964-1995.

What do you think of Billy Wade’s short career in NASCAR? Do you think he would have continued to find success in the sport if he didn’t tragically pass away in 1965? Do you think he could have gone on to be a champion in one of The Series? Let us know in the comments below!

NASCAR Birthdays

January 4th

Trent Owens: Crew chief for the #43 Richard Petty Racing Ford. He used to race in The Camping World Truck Series, but lost his ride due to funding. His best career finish is at Pikes Peak in 2002.
J.O Staton: Raced in NASCAR in 1952. Only finished one race his entire career.
Dexter Bean: Veteran of The ARCA Racing Series and currently runs a limited schedule in The Xfinity Series for Kings Autosport. He is married to former Miss South Carolina, Misty McCrary.
Dennis Conner: former driver and crew chief.

January 5th

Doug Yates: Former team owner and son of champion team owner, Robert Yates. He also worked as an engine builder, even winning NASCAR’s engine building award in 2011. He describes engine building as relaxing.
Ed Spencer: Former driver and father of Jimmy Spencer. He competed in a number of modified races. He competed in only one Sprint Cup race, a 20th place effort at Bloomsfield Fairgrounds.
Troy Beebe: Former Xfinity Series driver. Left NASCAR in 1997 after obtaining only one top-ten finish his entire career.

January 6th

Dick Rathman: Former Grand National Series driver. won 13 races in his career and also was the first Indianapolis 500 pole-sitter to never complete a single lap.
B.A Wilson: Former Camping World Truck Series driver. Had two career top ten finishes in his career, but left NASCAR in 2000.
Pat Flaherty: Won the 1956 Indianapolis 500, but was severely injured three months later in a racing accident and retired three years later.
Jeff Swindell: Raced in The Winston Cup Series between 1986-1987
William Lee: Engineer for The #10 GoDaddy Chevrolet

January 7th

Daniel Suarez: Races full time in the Xfinity Series. He also has ten wins in The NASCAR Mexico Series.
Tony Cardamone: Jackman for the #10 GoGaddy Chevrolet.
Marty Houston: Former NASCAR driver and currently a tire changer for Kraig Kinser and Morgan-dollar Motorsports.
Ben Eyerly: Competed in one NASCAR race at Portland Speedway in 1957.
Lewis Hamilton: Formula One driver and multiple time driver champion.

January 8th

Bobby Hamliton Jr: Former Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series driver. Has five wins in the Xfinity racing series and recently competed in The ARCA Racing Series.
Herb Tillman: Competed in The Grand National Series between 1953-1962. His last race was the World 600 in 1962.
Mark Martin: Former Sprint Cup Series driver and won 40 races throughout his historic career. Also finished second in points five times in his career.

January 9th

Stephen Leicht: 2012 Sprint Cup rookie of the year. He also won one Xfinity series race at Kentucky in 2007.
Bob Rahilly: served as Tim Richmond’s crew chief in 1981.
Dick Johnson: five time Australian Touring Champion. Current part owner of V8 Supercar team, DJR Team Penske.

More racing: The 20 Most Entertaining Confrontations In NASCAR

January 10th

Harry Gant: Former Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series driver. Nicknamed Mister September after winning all four September races in 1991 at the age of 51. He also won two Busch Series races during that month as well. Gant retired from racing in 1997.
Larry McReynolds: The veteran crew chief captured 23 wins, 21 poles, 122 top fives and 209 top tens throughout his 15 year career in The Sprint Cup Series. He became an analyst for Fox Sport in 2000 and also worked as a adviser to Richard Petty
Rodger Ward: Won the 1959 and 1962 Indianapolis 500. Also a two time USAC Champion.
Bobby Rahal Two time Indianapolis 500 winner. Won 24 CART races and amassed 88 podiums throughout his career.