Tracy Leslie
Encyclopedia
Tracy Leslie is an American professional stock car racer. He currently races in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
, against his son, Billy. He also raced in the NASCAR
Winston Cup and Busch Series
.
. Later he moved down south to compete in the ARCA series, winning the championship and Rookie of the Year honors in 1988. He collected three more wins over the next two years as well. He made his NASCAR debut in 1989 at the Coca-Cola 600
, starting 29th and finishing 25th in a car owned by A. J. Foyt
. He ran another race that year for Foyt at Michigan
, finishing 20th. In 1990, Leslie ran the 600 in his own #72, but suffered engine failure. Later in the year, he teamed with owner Ron Parker to field the #72 Detroit Gasket Chevy. He ran two more Cup races in the entry, both resulting in DNF’s.
, but was involved in a lap 1 crash and did not finish the race. He ran the season full-time, posting a second-place finish at Indianapolis Raceway Park, and finished fifteenth in points. The next year, he had ten top-tens and finished fifteenth in points again. In 1993, Leslie won his first pole at the Champion 300, but finished 34th due to engine failure. Later, at IRP, Leslie took his only career win in the Busch Series. He finished eleventh in points at the end of the year. He would finish eleventh in points the next year as well, posting eight top-tens. In 1995, he won his second at pole at Dover
, but was released from the 72 for the last two races of the year, but Parker fielded a second entry for him.
in the Cup series in a car owned by Phil Barkdoll
, but he failed to qualify. In 1997, he signed to drive the #63 Lysol
Pontiac Grand Prix
for Hensley Motorsports. He had five top-tens and finished seventeenth in points. He returned to the ride in 1998, his best finish a thirteenth before he was released. He has not raced in NASCAR since.
In 1999, he returned to the ARCA series driving a car owned by Jack Bowsher
, and picked up wins at Winchester Speedway
and Salem Speedway
.
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
, against his son, Billy. He also raced in the 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...
Winston Cup and Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
.
Early career
Leslie ran his first race in 1975, and soon began racing throughout the Midwest, winning championships at Mt. Clemens and Toledo SpeedwayToledo Speedway
Toledo Speedway is a racetrack located in Toledo, Ohio. It is owned jointly by Roy Mott and ARCA President Ron Drager. It is operated by ARCA and run as the sister track to Flat Rock Speedway in Flat Rock, Michigan.-Weekly program:...
. Later he moved down south to compete in the ARCA series, winning the championship and Rookie of the Year honors in 1988. He collected three more wins over the next two years as well. He made his NASCAR debut in 1989 at the Coca-Cola 600
Coca-Cola 600
The Coca-Cola 600, formerly known as the World 600, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held each year at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend...
, starting 29th and finishing 25th in a car owned by A. J. Foyt
A. J. Foyt
Anthony Joseph Foyt, Jr., or as he is universally known as in motorsports circles, A. J. Foyt , is a retired American automobile racing driver. He raced in numerous genres of motorsports. His open wheel racing includes USAC Champ cars and midget cars. He raced stock cars in NASCAR and USAC. He won...
. He ran another race that year for Foyt at Michigan
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
, finishing 20th. In 1990, Leslie ran the 600 in his own #72, but suffered engine failure. Later in the year, he teamed with owner Ron Parker to field the #72 Detroit Gasket Chevy. He ran two more Cup races in the entry, both resulting in DNF’s.
1990-1995
Leslie made his Busch Series debut in 1991 at the Goody’s 300 in the Detroit Gasket OldsmobileOldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
, but was involved in a lap 1 crash and did not finish the race. He ran the season full-time, posting a second-place finish at Indianapolis Raceway Park, and finished fifteenth in points. The next year, he had ten top-tens and finished fifteenth in points again. In 1993, Leslie won his first pole at the Champion 300, but finished 34th due to engine failure. Later, at IRP, Leslie took his only career win in the Busch Series. He finished eleventh in points at the end of the year. He would finish eleventh in points the next year as well, posting eight top-tens. In 1995, he won his second at pole at Dover
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
, but was released from the 72 for the last two races of the year, but Parker fielded a second entry for him.
1996-2000
In 1996, Leslie began running a limited schedule in his #11. He ran eight races, his best finish a 10th at IRP. He also attempted the Daytona 500Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
in the Cup series in a car owned by Phil Barkdoll
Phil Barkdoll
Phil Barkdoll is a former NASCAR owner-driver from Phoenix, Arizona who only ran at two tracks in his entire career: Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.-NASCAR career:...
, but he failed to qualify. In 1997, he signed to drive the #63 Lysol
Lysol
Lysol is a trade name for common household cleanersLysol may also refer to:* Lysol , a 1992 album by The Melvins* Lysol , Actor muMs da Schemer played Lysol in The Mad Real World skit on Chappelle's Show....
Pontiac Grand Prix
Pontiac Grand Prix
Picking up where the Pontiac Ventura model left off, the Grand Prix first appeared in the Pontiac line for 1962. It was essentially a standard Pontiac Catalina coupe with minimal outside chrome trim and a sportier interior...
for Hensley Motorsports. He had five top-tens and finished seventeenth in points. He returned to the ride in 1998, his best finish a thirteenth before he was released. He has not raced in NASCAR since.
In 1999, he returned to the ARCA series driving a car owned by Jack Bowsher
Jack Bowsher
Jack Edward Bowsher was an American race car driver and car owner. He obtained more than ten national championships in his 58 year racing career including, three ARCA Championships...
, and picked up wins at Winchester Speedway
Winchester Speedway
Winchester Speedway is a half-mile paved oval motor racetrack in White River Township, Randolph County, just outside Winchester, Indiana, approximately northeast of Indianapolis. It seats 4000 spectators. It is also known as the "World's Fastest 1/2 mile"....
and Salem Speedway
Salem Speedway
Salem Speedway is a .555 mile long paved oval motor racetrack in Washington Township, Washington County, near Salem, Indiana, approximately south of Indianapolis. It opened in 1947. Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA, USAR and the USAC...
.