G. C. Spencer

G. C. Spencer
G. C. Spencer
Born	Grover Clifton Spencer; July 9, 1925; Owensboro, Kentucky
Died	September 20, 2007 (aged 82); Johnson City, Tennessee
NASCAR Cup Series career
	415 races run over 20 years
Best finish	4th (1965)
First race	1958 Southern 500 (Darlington)
Last race	1977 Dixie 500 (Atlanta)

Grover Clifton "G. C." Spencer^[1] (July 9, 1925^[2] – September 20, 2007) was a NASCAR driver who competed in 415 Grand National/Winston Cup Series races from 1958 to 1977. Despite never winning a race, he had 55 top-5 finishes and 138 top tens, including 7 second-place finishes.

Born in Owensboro, Kentucky,^[3] he was a dominant short-track racer in the 1940s and 1950s. He served in World War II with the U.S. Navy.^[3]

Spencer drove for his own independent team for most of his career, and was one of the most successful independents of the day. His best season came in 1965, when he finished fourth in points with 14 top-5 finishes and 25 top-10s and his only career pole. Although he drove GM and Chrysler cars for most of his career, he drove Fords in 1965, where he found most of his success.

He sold his team and equipment in 1983,^[4] and his No. 49 became the No. 4 of Morgan-McClure Motorsports.^[3] Spencer acted as the team manager to the team for its first three years.^[3]

He died in 2007 at the age of 82.^[3]

Motorsports career results[]

NASCAR[]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series[]

NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60	61	62	NGNC	Pts	Ref
1958	Buck Baker Racing	86	Chevy		DAB	CON			HBO		CLB	PIF	ATL		MAR	ODS		GPS			NWS	BGS		RSD	CLB				HCY	AWS		MCC	SLS	TOR	BUF	MCF	BEL	BRR	CLB	NSV	AWS	BGS	MBS	DAR 16		BIR	CSF		RCH	HBO		MAR	NWS	ATL												36th	1040	^[5]
1959		44	Chevy		DAY	DAY	HBO	CON	ATL		BGS	CLB	NWS 15																																																					13th	4260	^[6]
1959		34													HCY 14	MAR 17	TRN	12	NSV 11	ASP	PIF 4	GPS 7	ATL 22	CLB 17	14	RCH	BGS 8	AWS 19	DAY 34	HEI	27	MBS 12	28	NSV 12	AWS 12	BGS 11	GPS 15	CLB 7	DAR 23	HCY 14	RCH 14	CSF	HBO 8	MAR 34	AWS	NWS 16	30																			13th	4260	^[6]
1960		34		11	CLB 15	DAY 14	DAY	DAY 31		NWS																																																								33rd	3986	^[7]
		48	Chevy									CLB 9	MAR 13	20		BGS	GPS 21	AWS 5	DAR 15	PIF 6	HBO 18	RCH	HMS	CLT 21	BGS	DAY	HEI		MBS	ATL	BIR 6	10	AWS 17	PIF 19	CLB 26	SBO 15	BGS 17		HCY 11	CSF	4	HBO	MAR 16	NWS 17	CLT 16	RCH	ATL
		20	Ford																																			DAR 22
1961		48	Chevy		JSP	DAY	DAY	DAY	PIF	AWS	HMS	ATL	GPS 4	HBO 9	BGS 10	MAR 15	NWS 18	CLB 4	4	RCH 6	13	DAR 17	10		RSD	ASP	CLT 31	PIF 8	9	GPS 9	BGS 8			7	DAY	9	CLB 8	MBS 16	BRI 34	8	BGS 6	AWS 27	RCH	SBO 19	DAR	HCY 6	RCH 10	CSF	ATL 31	MAR 11	NWS 23	CLT	BRI 12	GPS	HBO											20th	9128	^[8]
1962		48	Chevy	CON 12	AWS 22				CON 7	AWS 20	12	HBO 19	RCH 8	5	NWS 11	GPS 10	MBS 17	MAR 12	BGS 9	BRI 25	RCH	15	CON 15		PIF 4			BGS 14	AUG 5	RCH 11	SBO 19	DAY	CLB	ASH	GPS	AUG		MBS	BRI 32	CHT 6	11	HUN 16	AWS 22	10	BGS 5	PIF 5	4	DAR 28	HCY 7	RCH 14	DTS	AUG	MAR 30	NWS 19	26	ATL 16										24th	9788	^[9]
		38	Ford			DAY 21	DAY	DAY 45																DAR 28
		79	Chevy																							CLT 21	ATL 26
1963		48	Chevy	BIR	21	18	RSD																																																											18th	13744	^[10]
	Fox Racing	03	Chevy					DAY 11	DAY	DAY 32	PIF	AWS	HBO	ATL DNQ		BRI	AUG 8	RCH 17	GPS 3	SBO
		03																			BGS 16	MAR		CLB 22												BGS 18	ASH 18		BRR	BRI 35	GPS	21	CLB 5			BGS 6	6		HCY 2	RCH 4
		58																					24		7
	Owens Racing	16	Dodge																							DAR 13	ODS	RCH
		25	Mercury																										CLT 9	BIR	ATL 13	DAY 9	MBS		DTS
	Jack Smith	48	Plymouth																																									AWS 21							MAR 23	DTS	NWS		7	SBO 16	HBO 17	RSD
		75	Pontiac																																										PIF 7
	Jack Smith	47	Plymouth																																													DAR 24
1964		75	Pontiac	CON 20																									GPS 5	ASH 8																																				26th	10012	^[11]
		70	Pontiac		24
		03	Chevy			JSP 17		RSD	DAY
		2	Pontiac							DAY 16	DAY 33	RCH
		49	Chevy										BRI 30	GPS	BGS	ATL 25	AWS		PIF	CLB	NWS 12	MAR 13	SVH	DAR 16			SBO	CLT 6			ATL 35	CON	NSV 5	5	BIR		PIF	DAY			BRR	ISP	GLN	LIN	BRI	NSV	MBS	AWS			CLB
			Ford																																																			DAR 18	HCY	RCH	ODS	HBO	MAR 12		NWS	29			JAC 3
1965				RSD	DAY 20	DAY	DAY 10	PIF 2	AWS 4	RCH 10	HBO 17	ATL 12	GPS 16	NWS 8	MAR 12	CLB 17	BRI 22	DAR 9	21	BGS 4	3	CLT 29	7	ASH 18	2	NSV 8	3	ATL 6	GPS 18	MBS 5	3	DAY 3	ODS 7	16	ISP 13	GLN Wth	BRI 19	5		AWS 14	14	PIF 5	AUG 5	CLB	DTS			DAR 20	HCY 6	LIN 2	ODS 23	RCH 23	MAR 37	NWS 9	22		CAR 4									4th	24314	^[12]
		75																																					10
		2	Pontiac																																																					HBO 17
1966		49	Plymouth		RSD	DAY	DAY 9	DAY 24	CAR 44	BRI 10	ATL 32		CLB	GPS	BGS	NWS 2	MAR 5	DAR 5				RCH	CLT 2	DTS		PIF		AWS			DAY 35	ODS	BRR	OXF	FON	ISP	BRI 22	SMR	NSV 13	ATL 27	CLB	AWS 2	BLV	BGS	DAR 10	HCY	RCH		MAR 40	NWS 34	CLT 34	CAR 12														19th	15028	^[13]
1966	Gray Racing	97	Ford																										5	GPS																																				19th	15028	^[13]
1967		49	Plymouth		RSD	DAY 21	DAY	DAY 44	AWS	BRI 25	GPS	BGS	ATL 10	CLB		NWS 33	MAR 24		RCH	DAR 29			CLT 35		12	9	BIR	CAR 31	GPS 10	MGY	DAY	TRN 23	28	FDA 3	3	BRI 19	25	26						HCY 25	RCH	20	5	MAR 7	NWS 19			AWS 13														21st	15240	^[14]
		0	Dodge																																				ATL 8		CLB
	Petty Enterprises	42	Plymouth																																								DAR 3							CLT 5	CAR 37
1968		49	Plymouth	24	MGY	RSD	DAY	BRI 32	RCH		HCY 13	GPS	CLB	NWS 22	MAR 21	AUG	AWS 27	DAR	BLV	LGY	CLT 43				BIR	CAR 33	GPS	DAY	ISP 20	18	FDA 22	TRN 8	BRI 31	7	17	ATL 10	CLB		AWS 29	SBO		DAR 38	HCY	RCH	BLV 4	10	MAR 30	NWS 11		CLT 35																23rd	1401	^[15]
	Bobby Allison	2	Dodge							ATL 28
	Roy Trantham	84	Ford																																																CAR 8	JFC 28
1969		49	Plymouth	MGR 21	MGY	RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	CAR 28		BRI 28	ATL 35	CLB	5	GPS	RCH	NWS 28	MAR 40	AWS	DAR 7	6	14	CLT 4		13	MCH	5	GPS		DAY	DOV 16	4	TRN 33	6	BRI 18			ATL 34	MCH		BGS	AWS 20	DAR 11	HCY 18	RCH	TAL	CLB	MAR 37	NWS 9	CLT 30		AUG	CAR 24		MGR	TWS									26th	1562	^[16]
1970				RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	RCH	CAR 27		ATL 25	BRI 14	TAL	NWS 30	CLB	DAR 25			CLT 9		MAR 6	MCH	RSD	4		GPS	DAY	5	21	TRN 9	BRI 4	24	NSV 36	ATL 27	CLB		MCH	TAL			DAR 9	7	RCH 7	DOV	NCF	NWS 30	CLT 11	MAR	MGR	CAR	LGY															16th	2079	^[17]
1971				RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY		RCH	CAR 26	7	BRI 27	ATL	CLB	GPS	8	NWS 9	MAR	DAR 6		TAL			CLT 36	DOV 5	MCH		HOU	GPS	DAY	BRI 24	24	5	TRN 31	NSV	ATL 27	BGS		MCH	TAL	CLB		DAR 21	MAR	CLT	DOV 34	CAR 31																			34th	1008	^[18]
1971		37	Dodge																																													MGR 23	RCH	NWS	TWS															34th	1008	^[18]

Winston Cup Series[]

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	NWCC	Pts	Ref
1972		49	Plymouth	RSD	DAY DNQ	RCH	ONT	CAR 30	ATL 14	BRI 9	DAR 36	NWS DNQ	MAR	TAL	CLT 39	DOV	MCH	RSD	TWS	DAY	BRI 28	TRN	ATL 40	TAL	MCH 38	NSV	DAR 19	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS				43rd	1238.25	^[19]
1972		0	Dodge																													CLT 36	CAR	TWS	43rd	1238.25	^[19]
1973		49	Dodge	RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL	NWS	DAR 15	MAR	TAL	NSV	CLT 29	DOV 26	TWS	RSD	MCH	DAY 14	BRI 29	ATL 8	TAL	NSV	DAR 39	RCH	DOV 30	NWS	MAR	CLT 39	CAR 41				37th	1503.15	^[20]
1974				RSD	DAY DNQ	RCH	CAR 39	BRI	ATL 30	DAR 36	NWS	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV 31	CLT 25	RSD	MCH	DAY 30	BRI	NSV	ATL 21	POC	TAL	MCH	DAR 6	RCH	DOV 37	NWS	MAR	CLT	CAR 35	ONT		38th	96.8	^[21]
1975				RSD	DAY 9	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL 36	NWS	DAR 24	MAR	TAL 22	NSV	DOV	CLT 38	RSD	MCH	DAY 39	NSV	POC	TAL 49	MCH	DAR 31	DOV	NWS	MAR	CLT 32	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL	ONT		40th	634	^[22]
1976				RSD	DAY	CAR	RCH	BRI	ATL	NWS	DAR	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL 25	MCH 34	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT 17	CAR	ATL 35	ONT		59th	319	^[23]
1977				RSD	DAY DNQ	RCH	CAR	ATL 21	NWS	DAR 8	BRI	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT 20	RSD	MCH	DAY 14	NSV	POC	TAL 31	MCH	BRI	DAR 37	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT 18	CAR	ATL 25	ONT		39th	785	^[24]

Daytona 500[]

Year	Team	Manufacturer	Start	Finish
1960		Chevrolet	27	31
1962		Ford	48	45
1963	Fox Racing	Chevrolet	21	32
1964		Pontiac	32	33
1965		Ford	36	10
1966		Plymouth	18	24
1967		Plymouth	45	44
1972		Plymouth	DNQ
1974		Dodge	DNQ
1975		Dodge	37	9
1977		Dodge	DNQ

References[]

^ G.C. Spencer, 20-year NASCAR veteran, dies at 82 - USATODAY.com
^ GC Spencer obituary. http://www.heartfeltconnections.net/memberEulogy.cfm?memberid=14734&sqry_rownum=1&CFTOKEN=39227896 Archived 2019-03-28 at the Wayback Machine .
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Bobo, Jeff. Kingsport Times News. "NASCAR pioneer G.C. Spencer dead at 82". 20 September 2007. http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9003095
^ Birchfield, Jeff. Johnson City Press. "Early NASCAR racer, who started 415 Cup events, Spencer dies". http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Detail.php?Cat=SPORTS&ID=60267 Archived 2015-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1958 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1959 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1960 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1961 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1962 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1963 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1964 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1965 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1966 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1967 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1968 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
^ "G.C. Spencer – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

External links[]

G. C. Spencer driver statistics at Racing-Reference
G. C. Spencer owner statistics at Racing-Reference

[USAToday-1] G.C. Spencer, 20-year NASCAR veteran, dies at 82 - USATODAY.com

[2] GC Spencer obituary. http://www.heartfeltconnections.net/memberEulogy.cfm?memberid=14734&sqry_rownum=1&CFTOKEN=39227896 Archived 2019-03-28 at the Wayback Machine .

[timesnews-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Bobo, Jeff. Kingsport Times News. "NASCAR pioneer G.C. Spencer dead at 82". 20 September 2007. http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9003095

[JCpress-4] Birchfield, Jeff. Johnson City Press. "Early NASCAR racer, who started 415 Cup events, Spencer dies". http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Detail.php?Cat=SPORTS&ID=60267 Archived 2015-09-27 at the Wayback Machine

[5] "G.C. Spencer – 1958 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[6] "G.C. Spencer – 1959 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[7] "G.C. Spencer – 1960 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[8] "G.C. Spencer – 1961 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[9] "G.C. Spencer – 1962 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[10] "G.C. Spencer – 1963 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[11] "G.C. Spencer – 1964 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[12] "G.C. Spencer – 1965 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[13] "G.C. Spencer – 1966 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[14] "G.C. Spencer – 1967 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[15] "G.C. Spencer – 1968 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[16] "G.C. Spencer – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[17] "G.C. Spencer – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[18] "G.C. Spencer – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[19] "G.C. Spencer – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[20] "G.C. Spencer – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[21] "G.C. Spencer – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[22] "G.C. Spencer – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[23] "G.C. Spencer – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[24] "G.C. Spencer – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

show v t Owens Racing
Years active	1960–1974
Personnel	Cotton Owens
NASCAR Hall of Fame	Bobby Allison Buddy Baker Bobby Isaac Junior Johnson Cotton Owens Benny Parsons David Pearson Fireball Roberts
Former drivers	Bobby Allison Mario Andretti Buddy Baker Dick Brooks Darel Dieringer Ralph Earnhardt Charlie Glotzbach Peter Gregg Pete Hamilton Ray Hendrick James Hylton Bobby Isaac Junior Johnson Sam McQuagg Cotton Owens Benny Parsons Jim Paschal David Pearson Sam Posey Marty Robbins Fireball Roberts G. C. Spencer Al Unser Billy Wade
Grand National Series Championships	1966 (Pearson)
Southern 500 wins