Nelson Stacy
Encyclopedia
Nelson Stacy was an American race car driver from Maysville, Kentucky
. He won the 1958, 1959, and 1960 MARC Series (now ARCA Remax Series championships. He also won three NASCAR
Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series) races in 1961 and 1962, including the 1961 Southern 500
at Darlington Speedway and the 1962 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
.
. He was a veteran of World War II
serving as a Tank Driver in the U.S. Third Army under the command of General George S. Patton
.
. After 12th place finish out of 30 cars, Stacy decided it would be best to drive in the MARC Series (later the ARCA Remax Series). Stacy lost the 1957 title to Iggy Katona
by 4.5 points, one of the slimmest margins in series history. Stacy's move enabled him to win the series championship in 1958, 1959 and 1960. Stacy had wins in 1957, 1959 and 1960 at Canfield Speedway
. In 1959, he started out the season in April by winning two of three races (Dayton and Canfield).
at Darlington Raceway
beating Fireball Roberts
and leading 72 laps. He also accumulated eight Top Ten finishes and 4 Top Five finishes as well.
In 1962, Stacy won the Rebel 300 at Darlington Raceway
beating Marvin Panch
,, the final convertible race in NASCAR history
, as well as the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
coming from 18th place to beat Joe Weatherly
and the 1962 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway
beating out Richard Petty
by over three laps. He accumulated three wins, seven Top Tens, and five Top Five finishes for the 1962 season. He also won the NASCAR Convertible Division
race that year at the Darlington Rebel 300.
Stacy failed to win any races in 1963; he accumulating nine Top Ten and four Top Five finishes. Stacy Finished a career-high 14th in the final points standing this year. In 1964, at age 43, Stacy's health began to become a factor and he went on to compete in two more Grand National races. He achieved a 24th-place finish in his final start at the Firecracker 400 in 1965. Stacey ended his NASCAR career after competing in 45 races. In his career, he had 24 Top Ten and 13 Top Five Finishes along with 4 wins.
where he owned a car dealership. Stacy died on May 14, 1986 at the age of 64.
Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville...
. He won the 1958, 1959, and 1960 MARC Series (now ARCA Remax Series championships. He also won three 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 Series (now Sprint Cup Series) races in 1961 and 1962, including the 1961 Southern 500
Southern 500
The Showtime Southern 500 is the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, USA, and is the second such event at Darlington to bear the name. It began in 1957 as a race in the Convertible Division, known as the Rebel 300. In 1966, the race was...
at Darlington Speedway and the 1962 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
.
Early life
Stacy was originally from KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He was a veteran of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
serving as a Tank Driver in the U.S. Third Army under the command of General George S. Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
.
Early career
In 1952, Stacy made his first NASCAR Grand National Series start at Dayton SpeedwayDayton Speedway
The Dayton Speedway is a race track in Dayton, Ohio, United States.It has been called the "Fastest 1/2 mile in the world".The track has held events for NASCAR, AAA, MARC, ARCA, ASA, USAC, etc.-History:...
. After 12th place finish out of 30 cars, Stacy decided it would be best to drive in the MARC Series (later the ARCA Remax Series). Stacy lost the 1957 title to Iggy Katona
Iggy Katona
Egnatius "Iggy" Katona was an American stock car racer from Willis, Michigan. He is most famous for his performance in the ARCA series in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, where he won six championships and a series record 79 races...
by 4.5 points, one of the slimmest margins in series history. Stacy's move enabled him to win the series championship in 1958, 1959 and 1960. Stacy had wins in 1957, 1959 and 1960 at Canfield Speedway
Canfield Speedway
- Canfield Speedway :Canfield Speedway hosted sanctioned auto racing from 1950 to 1964, but other associations ran until the late 1970s. The track is a half mile dirt oval that was on the Nascar Grand National Schedule for three years from 1950-1952 hosting one event annually over that time period...
. In 1959, he started out the season in April by winning two of three races (Dayton and Canfield).
NASCAR career
After a decade in the MARC series, Stacy decided give Grand National racing another try. In 1961 Stacy entered back into NASCAR competition at age 40 competing in 15 of the 52 scheduled races. Stacy won 1961 Southern 500Southern 500
The Showtime Southern 500 is the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, USA, and is the second such event at Darlington to bear the name. It began in 1957 as a race in the Convertible Division, known as the Rebel 300. In 1966, the race was...
at Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
beating Fireball Roberts
Fireball Roberts
Edward Glenn Roberts, Jr. , nicknamed "Fireball", was one of the pioneering race car drivers of NASCAR.-Background:...
and leading 72 laps. He also accumulated eight Top Ten finishes and 4 Top Five finishes as well.
In 1962, Stacy won the Rebel 300 at Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
beating Marvin Panch
Marvin Panch
Marvin Panch Marvin Panch Marvin Panch (born May 28, 1926, in Menomonie, Wisconsin, is a former NASCAR driver.-Early career:He started his racing career as a car owner in Oakland, California. One week, his driver did not show up, and he raced the car to a third place finish...
,, the final convertible race in NASCAR history
NASCAR Convertible Division
The NASCAR Convertible Division was a division of convertible cars early in NASCAR's history.-History:NASCAR purchased SAFE 's all-convertible Circuit of Champions “All Stars” circuit late in 1955. Most drivers did not make the transition to NASCAR's sanction. NASCAR ran the division from 1956...
, as well as the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
coming from 18th place to beat Joe Weatherly
Joe Weatherly
Joseph "Joe" Weatherly was a two-time NASCAR championship driver. Weatherly was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2009 after winning NASCAR's Grand National championships in 1962 and 1963, three A.M.A...
and the 1962 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
beating out Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
by over three laps. He accumulated three wins, seven Top Tens, and five Top Five finishes for the 1962 season. He also won the NASCAR Convertible Division
NASCAR Convertible Division
The NASCAR Convertible Division was a division of convertible cars early in NASCAR's history.-History:NASCAR purchased SAFE 's all-convertible Circuit of Champions “All Stars” circuit late in 1955. Most drivers did not make the transition to NASCAR's sanction. NASCAR ran the division from 1956...
race that year at the Darlington Rebel 300.
Stacy failed to win any races in 1963; he accumulating nine Top Ten and four Top Five finishes. Stacy Finished a career-high 14th in the final points standing this year. In 1964, at age 43, Stacy's health began to become a factor and he went on to compete in two more Grand National races. He achieved a 24th-place finish in his final start at the Firecracker 400 in 1965. Stacey ended his NASCAR career after competing in 45 races. In his career, he had 24 Top Ten and 13 Top Five Finishes along with 4 wins.
Later life and death
Stacy spent his final years in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
where he owned a car dealership. Stacy died on May 14, 1986 at the age of 64.