NASCAR has always been known as a family sport, from the men who
crafted it to those who brought it to greatness with their on-track
prowess. And many families have made their living in the sport,
shaping it into its current form over the years. Here’s a
look at some of the greatest in NASCAR history:
Frances
From the beginning, the Frances have been the dominating
force in NASCAR. Bill France Sr. crafted the sport from a
grass-roots favorite noted for its ties to moonshiners and racing
on the beach to a national entity with drivers growing in
popularity. His son, Bill Jr., continued the trend, gaining a
national audience and moving the sport across the country and
farther from its Southern roots while maintaining its flavor with
that audience.
Bill Jr.’s son, Brian, entered during the sport’s
heyday and introduced a landmark television contract followed by
creation of the Chase format for determining a championship. Under
his leadership, the sport also has created a Hall of Fame and
inducted its first class of five, including both Bill Sr. and Bill
Jr.
Meanwhile, Lesa France Kennedy, France Jr.’s daughter,
took the helm of International Speedway Corp. and altered the
landscape of tracks hosting dates across the country. And Jim
France, Bill Sr.’s other son, has long played a pivotal role
in the direction of both NASCAR and ISC and now helms the Grand-Am
arm of the sport.
Pettys
While many credit Richard Petty’s tenacious driving and
graciousness with fans for helping the sport’s explosion in
popularity, the Petty family’s role in NASCAR actually began
with his father, Lee.
Helping NASCAR grow from its humble roots, Lee Petty won
three championships and 54 races over the course of his 16-year
career. He was followed in the sport by Richard, who became the
first driver to win seven championships and the only one to win 200
races — a mark most expect to stand the test of time. Petty
was not only a formidable competitor on the track but also a fan
favorite off of it. As a co-owner of Richard Petty Motorsports, he
will still sign autographs endlessly.
He was followed in the sport by his son, Kyle, who won eight
races before moving into the television arena. These days, Kyle
remains popular with fans and media like his father. His son, Adam,
was set to carry the Petty name into a new era but was killed in a
crash during practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2001. His
legacy lives on through the Victory Junction Gang Camp for
chronically-ill children that his family created in his honor.
Woods
It seems they have always been known as the Wood Brothers,
first Glen and Leonard, then Eddie and Len. Glen and Leonard Wood
competed in NASCAR in the days when competitors drove their race
cars to the tracks or hauled them with simple equipment. Glen was
the driver, Leonard the expert when it came to building bodies and
engines. Glen won nine races in the Cup and Convertible series,
then settled into the ownership role with his brother.
Glen’s sons, Len and Eddie, and their sister, Kim,
eventually took over. The Wood Brothers organization has been one
of the longest-running and most successful in the sport, competing
for 60 years and earning 97 wins with the likes of Wood, Curtis
Turner, A.J. Foyt, Dan Gurney, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Neil
Bonnett, Buddy Baker, Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett and Morgan Shepherd.
Eddie Wood’s son, Jon, and Len Wood’s son, Keven, have
also competed in NASCAR in recent years, carrying the family name
into a new decade.
Earnhardts
While they may not surpass the France family in impact, the
Earnhardts certainly supersede them in popularity.
Ralph Earnhardt broke into the sport in the 1950s and was
considered a genius when it came to building cars. He passed his
love of the sport on to his son, Dale Sr., who claimed an era when
NASCAR had reached a national audience, winning seven titles and
the nickname “The Intimidator” for his aggressive
driving style. His No. 3 Chevrolet remains one of the most
recognizable cars of all time.
Personable and charming with fans and media, Dale Sr. went on
to form his own team, Dale Earnhardt Inc., with his wife, Teresa,
and field cars for Dale Jr. Earnhardt died in the 2001 Daytona 500,
but his legacy continues with his son.
While Dale Jr. has carved his own niche in NASCAR, he’s
been successful both on the track — he has 18 career Cup wins
— and as a businessman developing sponsor relationships. He,
too, has started his own team, the Nationwide Series JR
Motorsports. It’s run by his sister, Kelley Earnhardt, one of
the most powerful women in racing. A team co-owner, she’s
helped build JRM into one of the powerhouse Nationwide-only
organizations in the sport. Kerry Earnhardt, Dale Sr.’s other
son, also carved out his own racing career. Now it is his son,
Jeffrey, who is trying to establish a NASCAR career.
Allisons
Perhaps no NASCAR family enjoyed so much success marred by
such overwhelming tragedy.
Bobby and Donnie Allison dazzled NASCAR fans even before the
sport was a national entity but were perhaps best known for their
participation in a fight on national television following the 1979
Daytona 500. In the '70s, they were both highly competitive in the
sport and made names for themselves. Bobby enjoyed the most success
in the Cup ranks, winning 84 races — tied for third on the
all-time list — and the 1983 series championship. He also
survived a horrific crash at Pocono Raceway in 1988. Donnie won 10
Cup races and is widely credited with more than 200 short-track
victories.
The Allisons were known as members of the “Alabama
Gang” because of their hometown roots. Bobby Allison’s
sons, Davey and Clifford, also became racers. Davey won 19 Cup
races before he was killed in a helicopter accident. Clifford ran
three limited schedule seasons in the Nationwide Series before he
was killed in a crash during practice for a series race at Michigan
International Speedway.
Jarretts
Ned Jarrett has long been viewed as a gentleman both on and
off the track and was a tenacious competitor who left the sport in
his prime. After winning a pair of championships, he retired in
1966 at the age of 34 and moved into a new arena as a race
commentator loved by fans. His sons, though, followed him into
racing — Dale as a driver and Glenn in his father’s
second love, broadcasting.
Dale Jarrett won his own title in 1999 and was part of one of
racing’s most emotional moments when he won the 1993 Daytona
500 with his dad calling the final laps. Jarrett, like his father,
left driving but not the sport and is now also a commentator.
Dale’s son, Jason, carried on the tradition and competed in
Nationwide Series races for a time.
Wallaces
The city of St. Louis produced more than its share of talent
when it came to the Wallace family. Russ and his wife, Judy,
instilled a love of racing into sons Rusty, Mike and Kenny. Rusty
was the most successful of the trio, winning the 1989 Cup
championship and 55 races in his Cup career. He remains actively
involved in racing as both a television analyst and owner of Rusty
Wallace Inc., the team for which his son, Steve, drives in the
Nationwide Series.
Mike Wallace, the second brother in the family line, also has
carved out a successful NASCAR career. He’s won four races in
what is now the Nationwide series and four in the Camping World
Truck series. Mike’s daughter, Chrissy, also has competed in
the Nationwide and Truck series in an effort to build a racing
career. And youngest brother Kenny has nine Nationwide wins as well
as eight top-10 season finishes in the series.
Flocks
The Flock children were all pioneers in NASCAR’s early
days with Tim, Fonty, Bob and their sister Ethel Mobley all
competing in races. Tim was the most successful of the crowd,
winning 40 races in what is now the Cup series and the 1952 and
’55 titles. Fonty won 19 Cup races in 153 starts and finished
a career-best second in the 1951 standings. Bob earned four Cup
wins and finished third in the 1949 standings. And Ethel became
only the second woman to compete in a NASCAR race, running two
races in ‘49.
Labontes
Bob Labonte instilled in his sons a love of all things racing
and even guided Bobby to his first Nationwide Series title, working
as his crew chief. Terry and Bobby Labonte put Corpus Christi,
Texas, on NASCAR fans’ map. Both were exceedingly successful
in NASCAR racing and are the only brothers to have both won Cup
championships.
Terry won two Cup titles, in 1984 and ‘96, and 22 races
(as well as 11 Nationwide and one truck race) in his career. Bobby
won the 2000 Cup title and 21 Cup races as well as 10 Nationwide
and one truck race and is still competing full time.
Like their dad, they’ve passed on their love of racing.
Terry’s son, Justin, has competed in Nationwide races while
Bobby’s teenage son, Tyler, has competed in various
divisions.
Waltrips
Darrell Waltrip has been a pivotal figure in NASCAR history,
stirring up competitors with his fiery racing and outspoken nature
and continuing that relationship with fans as a broadcaster.
He’s a three-time Cup champion and winner of 84 Cup races and
13 Nationwide ones, a former truck series team owner and a
spokesperson at various events each season.
The outspoken Waltrip nature also is evident in his younger
brother Michael, though his career has been marked more by his
comedic comments than anything else. Michael won four Cup and
11 Nationwide races in his full-time driving days and then launched
a second career in the sport as a team owner. He brought Toyota
into NASCAR and has moved to a part-time driving role as he focuses
on Michael Waltrip Racing.
Like his brother, he is a member of several television
programs as well.
Marlins
Clifton Marlin, known as Coo Coo to his legion of fans and
family, was a Tennessean who grew up racing against the likes of
the Allison brothers and Red Farmer. A popular competitor, he spent
14 years competing in the Cup series. His brother, Jack, also ran a
NASCAR race after racing with his brother at the local track in
Nashville.
Coo Coo’s son, Sterling, followed his father and
crafted a career in the Cup series. Sterling Marlin continued
the family racing plan, competing on at least a limited schedule
for 33 years and earning 10 NASCAR victories. He came close to
winning the title in 2002, leading the points and still being in
the hunt late in the season when he was sidelined with a broken
neck.
Sterling passed on the love of racing to his children. His
son, Steadman, has competed in NASCAR races and his daughter,
Sutherlin, also has planned to race.
Parrotts
Buddy Parrot and his sons, Todd and Brad, have long been the
men behind the men. The trio of successful crew chiefs has worked
with some of the best in the business.
Buddy was the crew chief for Jeff Burton’s first win
and Richard Petty’s 200th. He won the Daytona 500 with
Derrike Cope and worked with Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace
among others.
His sons followed him into the crew chief business. Todd also
found significant success, winning the 1999 Cup championship with
driver Dale Jarrett. Now working with Matt Kenseth at Roush Fenway
Racing, he has 29 career wins, third among active crew chiefs. Brad
has crafted a career focusing primarily in the Nationwide Series,
in which he has worked with Roush Fenway Racing and Ganassi Racing.
He was also the crew chief for Jarrett at Robert Yates Racing and
is now working in the Nationwide ranks with Brendan Gaughan at
Rusty Wallace Racing.
Pembertons
The Pemberton brothers have long labored behind the scenes,
but their impact has been felt by NASCAR fans. Robin Pemberton was
the long-time crew chief for Rusty Wallace and also helmed teams
for Bobby Allison, Greg Sacks, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty for a
total of 23 wins as a crew chief. He was vice president and general
manager of Petty Enterprises, moved into a role as field manager at
Ford and is now serving as NASCAR’s vice president of
competition.
Like his older brother, Ryan opted for the crew chief route
as well. He’s worked in the sport since he was a teenager and
says he can’t really remember any other job. These days
he’s the crew chief for Red Bull Racing’s Brian
Vickers, who he led to a Chase berth last season. Randy Pemberton
has been involved in the television side off and on for years, most
recently with Speed.
Bodines
The Bodine brothers brought NASCAR to New York in a big way.
Geoffrey, Brett and Todd, natives of Chemung, N.Y., have all
been competitive racers and each has run in the Cup series.
Geoffrey began racing in 1979 and enjoyed a career in which he won
18 races, including the first ever for Hendrick Motorsports. He
survived a horrific crash in the truck series and also won six
Nationwide races. Most recently he has crafted the BoDyn bobsled,
which led the U.S. team to a medal in the recent Winter Olympics.
Brett Bodine was a team owner and competitor during his
racing days, winning one Cup and one Nationwide series race before
moving into a role in research and development and as the pace-car
driver for the sanctioning body. Todd still competes and won the
2006 Camping World Truck Series championship. He has 17 truck and
15 Nationwide wins in his career.
Several other families have helped build NASCAR to its level
of success: the Bakers, with dad Buck and son Buddy, the Parsons,
with brothers Benny and Phil, and currently the Buschs, with
brothers Kyle and Kurt. All have caught the imagination of fans and
helped keep the family influence in the sport over the years.
