Roy Tyner
Encyclopedia
William Leroy "Roy" Tyner (January 3, 1934 – February 23, 1989) was a retired Native American NASCAR
Grand National driver from Red Springs
, North Carolina
, USA
.
in addition to the 1959 Daytona 500
; his total contribution to his career statistics includes making fourteen finishes in the top five, and seventy-one finishes in the top ten. Additional statistics included a total career earnings of $83902 ($ in today's money), 45420 laps completed, an average start of 23rd place, an average finish of 19th place, and 30896.6 miles (49,723.1 km) of stock car racing experience. Tyner has competed in 311 races in his thirteen-year career from the time that he was 23 years old (in the 1957 season) to the time that he was 36 years old (in the 1970
season).
Tyner's nicknames were The Flying Indian and The Wild Indian. His choice of automobiles were the Pontiac
, the Ford
, and the Dodge
; with only Pontiac being a defunct brand name as of 2010. The most famous sponsor associated with him was Pepsi
which he was seen drinking between races and which continued to be his beverage of choice throughout his life. For reasons unknown, Tyner chose to take a sabbatical from the 1962 NASCAR Grand National Season. Art Brady would take over for Tyner in 1962; finishing 21st at the 1962 Southern 500
along with Cale Yarborough
(25th at Charlotte) and T.C. Hunt (19th at Chattanooga).
's Budweiser
race team. Tyner's death was caused by a fatal gunshot
to the head while he was in the in the show truck that was later set on fire. Local police ruled the death a suicide, but many believe foul play was involved. The case is still a mystery to this day. Tyner was married twice and fathered three children: William Leroy Jr., India Dawn, and Truett (who has a Pontiac patch from his father's racing days).
Tyner would accomplish twelve finishes in the top five, sixty-one finished in the top ten, 36235 laps, $234809 ($ in today's money) in total winnings, and 23869.0 miles of racing as an owner. The vehicles that Tyner would own would have an average start of 23rd and an average finish of 19th. African-American
driver Wendell Scott
would participate in one racing event using Roy Tyner's car in the 1968 NASCAR Grand National season. This event would be known as the 1968 Rebel 400
.
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 driver from Red Springs
Red Springs, North Carolina
Red Springs is a town in Robeson and Hoke counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 3,493 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Red Springs is located at ....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Driver
Tyner participated in the 1968 Fireball 3001968 Fireball 300
The 1968 Fireball 300 was a NASCAR Grand National racing event that had twenty-seven American competitors and one Canadian competitor...
in addition to the 1959 Daytona 500
1959 Daytona 500
The 1959 First Annual 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona was the second race of the 1959 NASCAR Grand National season. It was held on February 22, 1959, in front of 41,921 spectators...
; his total contribution to his career statistics includes making fourteen finishes in the top five, and seventy-one finishes in the top ten. Additional statistics included a total career earnings of $83902 ($ in today's money), 45420 laps completed, an average start of 23rd place, an average finish of 19th place, and 30896.6 miles (49,723.1 km) of stock car racing experience. Tyner has competed in 311 races in his thirteen-year career from the time that he was 23 years old (in the 1957 season) to the time that he was 36 years old (in the 1970
1970 in NASCAR
The 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series season began on Sunday January 18 and ended on Sunday November 22. Bobby Isaac was the champions of the series as NASCAR transitioned itself from the Grand National era to the Winston Cup era...
season).
Tyner's nicknames were The Flying Indian and The Wild Indian. His choice of automobiles were the Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
, the Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, and the Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
; with only Pontiac being a defunct brand name as of 2010. The most famous sponsor associated with him was Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
which he was seen drinking between races and which continued to be his beverage of choice throughout his life. For reasons unknown, Tyner chose to take a sabbatical from the 1962 NASCAR Grand National Season. Art Brady would take over for Tyner in 1962; finishing 21st at the 1962 Southern 500
1962 Southern 500
The 1962 Southern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series race that took place on September 3, 1962 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.-Summary:It took four hours and fourteen minutes to resolve 364 laps...
along with Cale Yarborough
Cale Yarborough
William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
(25th at Charlotte) and T.C. Hunt (19th at Chattanooga).
Owner
In addition to being a driver, Tyner eventually became a NASCAR owner. Tyner ran his own business doing auto body repair after his driving career ended. He also worked as a show car driver for Junior JohnsonJunior Johnson
Robert Glenn Johnson, Jr. , better known as Junior Johnson, is a retired moonshiner in the rural South who became one of the early superstars of NASCAR in the 1950s and 1960s. He won 50 NASCAR races in his career before retiring in 1966...
's Budweiser
Budweiser
Budweiser is a German adjective describing something or someone from the city of České Budějovice in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic.Beer brewing in České Budějovice dates back to the 13th century...
race team. Tyner's death was caused by a fatal gunshot
Gunshot
A gunshot is the discharge of a firearm, producing a mechanical sound effect and a chemical gunshot residue. The term can also refer to a gunshot wound caused by such a discharge. Multiple discharges of a firearm or firearms are referred to as gunfire. The word can connotate either the sound of a...
to the head while he was in the in the show truck that was later set on fire. Local police ruled the death a suicide, but many believe foul play was involved. The case is still a mystery to this day. Tyner was married twice and fathered three children: William Leroy Jr., India Dawn, and Truett (who has a Pontiac patch from his father's racing days).
Tyner would accomplish twelve finishes in the top five, sixty-one finished in the top ten, 36235 laps, $234809 ($ in today's money) in total winnings, and 23869.0 miles of racing as an owner. The vehicles that Tyner would own would have an average start of 23rd and an average finish of 19th. African-American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
driver Wendell Scott
Wendell Scott
Wendell Oliver Scott was an American stock car racing driver from Danville, Virginia. He is the only black driver to win a race in what is now the Sprint Cup Series. According to a 2008 biography of Scott, he broke the color barrier in Southern stock car racing on May 23, 1952, at the Danville...
would participate in one racing event using Roy Tyner's car in the 1968 NASCAR Grand National season. This event would be known as the 1968 Rebel 400
1968 Rebel 400
The 1968 Rebel 400 was a NASCAR Grand National race that took place on May 11, 1968 at Darlington Raceway in the American community of Darlington, South Carolina.-Summary:...
.