Joe Weatherly: A Tribute to the NASCAR Legend Whose Life Was Cut Short

Joe Weatherly: A Tribute to the NASCAR Legend Whose Life ...

By Jocelyn Alano August 06, 2024 00:16

Photo by Archives via Getty Images

Joseph Herbert Weatherly was born on May 29 in Norfolk, Virginia. Weatherly was raised in a racing family and developed an early appreciation for everything fast, rooted in his desire to race. He grew up watching local motorsport events, so by the time he was 28, he had started racing modified cars. However, Weatherly's natural skill was immediately apparent as he won 49 of the 83 races he entered that first season. His magical beginning set the stage for a career, making him one of NASCAR's most beloved heroes.

Weatherly's professional racing career began in the early 1950s when he shifted from motorcycle competition to stock car races. He started his career in the NASCAR Modified Division and won championships there in 1952 and nationwide championships during those three years. His dominance in the division led to him being noticed by car owners and sponsors, which helped lead him into the NASCAR Grand National Series, today's NASCAR Cup series.

Rise to NASCAR Stardom

Weatherly made his first non-Southern 500 Grand National start in 1956 as a factory Ford driver for Pete DePaolo Engineering. He was such a charismatic and talented fighter that he became known in the sport as one of its bright young stars. In the coming years, Weatherly will be a dark horse on the track, with his aggressive driving style and unique ability to adapt to changing race conditions.

This first breakthrough came in the early 1960s when he signed with Bud Moore Engineering. Putting together Weatherly with Moore was a match made in heaven. He followed that with back-to-back NASCAR Grand National Championships in 1962 and '63, the first driver ever to do so since the series had been born. He won 25 races during these championship years, demonstrating the winning style that brought him such success.

Racing Accomplishments

NASCAR Grand National Championships: 1962, 1963
Total Career Wins: 25
Top Ten Finishes: 153
Poles: 18

His Death In Tragic Circumstances

Tragedy would strike on January 19, 1964, at Riverside International Raceway during the running of what was then known as the Riverside 500. He was killed instantly after his car struck a concrete retaining wall. He was not driving with a shoulder harness, and he had no window net at the time of the crash because he didn't want to get caught in a burning car. His decision would be a fatal one, as his head hit against the wall, and he died almost instantly at just 41 years old.

Weatherly's 1964 death was a turning point in the history of NASCAR. His death drew attention to the need for greater occupational safety in male sport, spawning changes including requiring drivers to wear an elbow pad or a long-sleeve shirt or fire suit and mandating window nets, as well as spurring further improvements on belts from lap type only without shoulder straps spans with the inclusion of using them even at open wheel divisions.

Lasting Legacy

Though his death came far too soon, Joe Weatherly's influence on NASCAR has certainly stood the test of time. His legacy lives on not only in his remarkable motorsport success but also in his tremendous character. Weatherly, who was known as "The Clown Prince of Auto Racing" because of his comical ways and knack for playing in pranks that made him a favorite among fans. NASCAR lost an incredibly bright spirit that left a huge impact on the culture of its sport.

After his death, Weatherly was recognized for his contributions to the sport in many ways. In 2015, he was also inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, establishing him as one of racing's all-time greats. He was also one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998 and was named an inductee into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994.

Joe Weathely's death poignantly reminds us that motor racing is a dangerous business and safety in the sport has to be considered seriously. Accomplishments on the track and a colorful personality have ensured NASCAR does not forget him. While fans remember him, they celebrate Weatherly's wins and the joy and fire he had for racing. His legacy lives on in all of us as fans, and for new drivers that continue to come through the ranks, so his name will never be forgotten.

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