Harry Melling (NASCAR owner)

Harry Melling (June 13, 1945 – May 29, 1999) was the team owner of Melling Racing, which won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship with Bill Elliott.

Background[]

Melling graduated from Ferris State University. Melling succeeded his father Benjamin as President of in 1975. Melling Tool is a maker of automotive products. Melling also owned Treetops Sylvan Resort in Gaylord, Michigan, turning a small local ski hill into a national skiing and golfing destination.

NASCAR team owner[]

Melling Racing car that set the record for the fastest recorded time in a stock car - 212.809 mph (342.483 km/h) at Talladega Superspeedway

Melling's first involvement in NASCAR began in 1979 as a primary sponsor for Benny Parsons. Melling Racing won the NASCAR Winston Cup points championship with Bill Elliott.

Death[]

Melling died of a heart attack at his golf course in Gaylord, Michigan, two weeks before his 54th birthday.^[1] At the Michigan race two weeks later, which is usually the team's homecoming, the team raced a red and white Cartoon Network (the sponsor in the 1999 season) with the team's driver Jerry Nadeau. On the decklid, a decal said "To Harry! We miss you". Harry's favorite colors were red and white, and semi-served as a team throwback. His son, Mark ran his team for a few more years.

Awards[]

• Posthumously inducted in the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame (2004)
• Melling was named one of NASCAR's "40 most important people in NASCAR history" by Winston Cup Scene, an industry NASCAR magazine, in 1997.

References[]

External links[]

• Harry Melling owner statistics at Racing-Reference
• Brief Biography

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