Paul Lewis | |||||||
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Born | Johnson City, Tennessee, United States | September 28, 1932||||||
Awards | 1960 NASCAR Rookie of the Year Runner-up | ||||||
NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
114 races run over 9 years | |||||||
Best finish | 14th – 1965 NASCAR Grand National Series season | ||||||
First race | 1960 Gwyn Staley 160 (North Wilkesboro Speedway) | ||||||
Last race | 1968 World 600 (Charlotte Motor Speedway) | ||||||
First win | 1966 Smoky Mountain 200 (Smoky Mountain Raceway) | ||||||
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Paul Lewis (born September 28, 1932) is a retired NASCAR Grand National Series race car driver whose career spanned from 1960 to 1968 [1] while primarily driving a #2 Dodge vehicle owned by Bobby Allison. [2]
Lewis made his debut into top-level professional stock car racing in 1960 at the age of 27. He originally drove a Chevrolet. but also raced Ford, Dodge, and Plymouth cars. [3] During his 10-season career, Lewis made 114 Grand National starts, with 1 career pole in a May 1965 event at North Carolina's Harris Speedway, and scored his only career win at the 1966 Smoky Mountain 200 in Maryville, Tennessee. He led a total of 71 laps in his career as well. [4]
During his career, Lewis never ran a full season, and his best season points finish was 14th in 1965 after competing in just under half that year's events. [5] He started his career at the age of 27 and ended it at 35 years of age; a latecomer compared today's to NASCAR drivers who generally start their career at the top level between the ages of 18 and 21. [1]
Lewis has managed to earn a grand total of $52,867 from all the racing events that he participated in ($444,892.25 when adjusted for inflation). [1] Dirt tracks helped to contribute to Lewis' best career finishes; with him finishing an average of tenth place. His shortcoming would be restrictor plate tracks; where Lewis would finish a mediocre 30th place on average. [6]
Like many NASCAR drivers of his time, Lewis also drove his own car during some his career; his ownership career spanned from 1962 to 1968. In addition to himself, Buddy Arrington and Tiny Lund also each drove 1 race apiece for Lewis. Total earnings as a NASCAR owner for Lewis was $29,060 ($244,548.94 when adjusted for inflation). [7]
Lewis still offers advice to stock car racers who live in the vicinity of Johnson City, Tennessee. [8]
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