Monk Tate

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Monk Tate
BornJohn Dillard Tate
(1934-03-29)March 29, 1934
Ruffin, North Carolina
DiedMay 15, 2020(2020-05-15) (aged 86)
Ruffin, North Carolina
Achievements1971 Trico Motor Speedway late model sportsman champion[1]
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
1 race run over 1 year
1982 position173rd
Best finish173rd (1982)
First race1982 Dogwood 500 (Martinsville)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of October 2, 2020.

John Dillard "Monk" Tate (March 29, 1934 – May 15, 2020) was an American racing driver, moonshine runner, tobacco farmer and business owner. He was a competitor in the NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series, winning the 1975 Cardinal 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Racing career[]

After becoming a racing fan in his youth, Tate started his racing career with a 1938 Chevrolet, driving it at Rainbow Speedway in his late teens. He later raced locally at tracks like Concord International Speedway, Draper Speedway and Log Cabin Raceway.[2][3] He later expanded to regional racing in the eastern United States, running races as far away as the World Series of Asphalt in Florida.[4] Tate claimed a NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division win at the Cardinal 500 at Martinsville Speedway in 1975, inheriting the lead late after Butch Lindley slowed from tire wear.[5] After briefly retiring from competitive racing in the 1980s, Tate began vintage racing in 1996 and continued to do so until 2004.[2] Bouncing between stock car racing, late model racing and modified racing, Tate estimated that he won over 1,000 races in his career, including 50 in one particularly successful season.[2]

Tate also dabbled in car ownership, fielding a ride for Cale Yarborough in 1977 at Trico Motor Speedway.[6] In the 2010s, Tate was a modified car owner at Ace Speedway.[7]

Personal life[]

Tate was nicknamed "Monk" after he climbed a falling tree in his childhood.[2] He ran moonshine, leading police to trap him one time by blocking both ends of a bridge on the Dan River. The incident landed Tate one night in jail and a probationary period.[2] Tate was a tobacco farmer in the beginning portions of his adult life and later owned Tate Trucking Company until 2019.[8]

Motorsports career results[]

NASCAR[]

Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series[]

NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series results
Year Car owner 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 NBLMSSC Pts Ref
1982 Monk Tate 88 Olds DAY RCH BRI MAR
32 		DAR HCY SBO DOV CLT CAR SBO IRP BRI HCY RCH MAR CLT MAR 173rd 67 [9]

References[]

  1. ^ "Sam Ard, Monk Tate Latest Entries in Permatex 100 at South Boston Speedway". The Danville Register. July 25, 1972. Retrieved October 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e "John 'Monk' Tate raced in NASCAR's early days". Greensboro News & Record. June 7, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Stephenson, Morris (October 21, 2008). "Morris catches up with old racing buddies". The Franklin News-Post. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  4. ^ "Ruttman Nabs Feature Win". Orlando Evening Star. February 18, 1972. Retrieved October 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Monk Cops Cardinal". United Press International. October 6, 1975.
  6. ^ Dyer, Bill (May 31, 1977). "Pit Stop". The Danville Bee. Retrieved October 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Smith, Adam (May 30, 2019). "York drives new path to success at Ace Speedway". Burlington Times-News. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  8. ^ "Sad News – John Dillard "Monk" Tate". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. June 1, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  9. ^ "Monk Tate – 1982 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 2, 2020.

External links[]

  • Monk Tate driver statistics at Racing-Reference
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