Cerry Ezra "Jabe" Thomas (born May 12, 1930 in Christiansburg

Christiansburg, Virginia

Christiansburg is a town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. The population was 21,041 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...

, Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

) is a retired NASCAR

NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...

 Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver who competed from the mid 1960s through the late 1970s. His son Ronnie was also a NASCAR Cup Series driver; competing from 1977 to 1989.

Career

Thomas drove 75243 laps of racing and earned $295,497 in total career money ($ in today's money). All of the laps that Thomas raced were the equivalent of 65631.9 miles (105,624 km) or circumnavigating the world at least once. Three finishes in the top five, 77 finishes in the top ten, and an average finish of 18th (his average start was 22nd) in his career were a part of his total statistics in the motorsport. Thomas started his Winston Cup Career at the age of 35 and ended it when he was 48 years old.

He was a competitor at least three major races of that era (the Fireball 300

1968 Fireball 300

The 1968 Fireball 300 was a NASCAR Grand National racing event that had twenty-seven American competitors and one Canadian competitor...

, the Tidewater 300

1970 Tidewater 300

The 1970 Tidewater 300 was the final NASCAR racing event held during its Grand National era at Langley Field Speedway on November 22, 1970...

, and the Yankee 400

1971 Yankee 400

The 1971 Yankee 400 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place at the Michigan International Speedway on August 15, 1971...

) along with the other important racing events of that era. Thomas is best known, however, for his performance during the 1971

1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season began on Sunday February 14 and ended on Sunday November 20. Richard Petty was the champion for this Winston Cup season. After 20 years of being named the NASCAR Grand National Series, R. J...

 and the 1974

1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Series

The 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday January 20 and ended on Sunday November 24. The first 15 races were shortened 10 percent due to the 1973 oil crisis. Richard Petty was Winston Cup champion at the end of the season finishing 567.45 points ahead of Cale Yarborough...

NASCAR Cup Series seasons.