List of NASCAR drivers who died during their careers

Last updated

This is a list of NASCAR drivers who died during their careers. This list only includes active drivers who died due to circumstances outside of a NASCAR race, and includes full-time, part-time, suspended, or partially-retired drivers. For the list of drivers who died in NASCAR races, see the list of NASCAR fatalities. This list includes drivers of the touring series of NASCAR: NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Truck Series, NASCAR Modified Tour, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, and the NASCAR-sanctioned ARCA Menards Series.

Deaths of active drivers

This is a list of notable deaths in NASCAR and untimely deaths of professional NASCAR drivers.

†Elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame
DriverAgeTeamPrimary SeriesCause of deathYearRef(s)
Davey Allison †32 Robert Yates Racing Cup helicopter crash 1993 [1]
Charlie Bradberry 24 free agent Busch truck crash 2006 [2]
Ted Christopher 59 Danny Watts Racing Modified tour plane crash 2017 [3]
Spencer Clark 19 Chris Diederich Racing Busch trailer crash 2006 [4]
Jim V. Cook 28 free agent Grand National boating accident 1951 [5]
Kevin Grubb 31 under suspension Nationwide suicide 2009 [6]
Frederico Gutiérrez 17 Toughbuilt Mexico car crash 2023 [7]
Bobby Hamilton 49 Bobby Hamilton Racing Trucks head and neck cancer 2007 [8]
Matt Hawkins 21 Matt Hawkins Racing ARCA accidentally shot himself 2009 [9]
Bobby Isaac †45 Neil Castles Racing Cup heat exhaustion 1976 [10]
Nick Joanides 55 Performance P-1 Motorsports ARCA unknown2025 [11]
Andy Kirby 40 Jay Robinson Racing Busch motorcycle crash 2002 [12]
Alan Kulwicki †38 AK Racing Cup plane crash 1993 [13]
Jason Leffler 37 Humphrey Smith Racing Cup sprint car accident 2013 [14]
Clarence Lovell 26 Don Bierschwale Racing Cup car crash 1973 [15]
Dick J. Meyer 26 free agent Grand National car crash 1953 [16]
Rob Moroso 22 Moroso Racing Cup car crash 1990 [17]
Kimberly Myers 27 Kim Myers Racing Weekly cystic fibrosis 1997 [18]
Richie Panch 31 free agent Busch plane crash 1985 [19]
Tim Richmond 34 Hendrick Motorsports Cup HIV/AIDS 1989 [20]
Chris Trickle 25 Star Nursery Racing Trucks homicide 1998 [21]

References

  1. ↑ Siano, Joseph (July 14, 1993). "Davey Allison, Stock-Car Driver, Dies at 32 After Helicopter Crash". nytimes.com . Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Popular local racer killed in weekend accident". Shelby County Reporter. October 10, 2006. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  3. ↑ Backus, Lisa (December 18, 2019). "Report finds cause of CT plane crash that killed NASCAR driver". ctpost.com. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Spencer Clark". Motorsport Memorial. May 23, 2006. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Jim V. Cook". Motorsport Memorial. 2003. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  6. ↑ Newton, David (May 6, 2009). "Grubb, 31, found dead at hotel". espn.com. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Fico Gutiérrez". Motorsport Memorial. 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Hamilton, longtime NASCAR driver, dies at 49". January 7, 2007. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Auto racer Hawkins dies in shooting". upi.com. February 16, 2009. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Bobby Isaac Dies Following Collapse In Stock Car Race". nytimes.com. August 15, 1977. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  11. ↑ "55-YO NASCAR Driver's Untimely Death Shatters Racing Community". Essentially Sports. December 6, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Driver Killed in Motorcycle Crash". The Statesville Record and Landmark. July 20, 2002. p. B1. Retrieved August 26, 2025– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  13. ↑ Teague, Slater (April 7, 2023). "Alan Kulwicki: Remembering the NASCAR champion who did things his way". www.wjhl.com. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Jason Leffler dies in dirt car event". espn.com. June 12, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Clarence Lovell". Motorsport Memorial. 2007. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Dick Meyer". Motorsport Memorial. 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  17. ↑ Glick, Shav (October 2, 1990). "NASCAR Driver Moroso Dies in Crash on Highway". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Kimberly Ann Myers". Motorsport Memorial. 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Richie Panch". Motorsport Memorial. 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  20. ↑ Hinton, Ed (August 12, 2009). "More than Tim Richmond died in 1989" . Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Trickle dies after 13-month battle". lasvegassun.com. March 26, 1998. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
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