Red Farmer

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"Red" Farmer
Born (1932-10-15) October 15, 1932 (age 89)
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Achievements1969 Late Model Sportsman Division Champion
1970 Late Model Sportsman Division Champion
1971 Late Model Sportsman Division Champion
1956 NASCAR Modified Champion
AwardsNamed one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998)
National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame (2002)
International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2004)
NASCAR Hall of Fame (2022)
NASCAR Cup Series career
36 races run over 13 years
Best finish50th (1968)
First race1953 untitled race (Daytona Beach)
Last race1975 Talladega 500 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 3 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
2 races run over 1 year
Best finish72nd (1992)
First race1992 Fram Filter 500k (Talladega)
Last race1992 Kroger 200 (IRP)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of May 3, 2013.

Charles "Red" Farmer (born October 15, 1932) is a former NASCAR racecar driver. He is a member of the Alabama Gang.[1]

Racing career[]

His first race was at Opa-locka Speedway near Miami, Florida in a 1934 Ford in 1948. He became famous as a member of the Alabama Gang and he considered his hometown to be Hueytown, Alabama. Estimates of Farmer's career victories range from 700 to 900 victories, most occurring in the late 1950s and early 60's. He raced 36 NASCAR races from 1953 to 1975. He won numerous championships at local tracks. Before racing in the Grand National series, he races modified stock cars in the northeast. He was one of the first few to transition from modified series to the early Grand National Series.[2] [3]He was the NASCAR National Late Model Sportsman champion (later Nationwide Series) for three consecutive years from 1969 to 1971. Farmer's best finish in NASCAR's top division was a fourth at both the 1972 Talladega 500, and the 1968 Middle Georgia 500 near Macon, Georgia). He had so few Cup races because he was content to run primarily in the Late Model Sportsman. He was named NASCAR's most popular driver 4 times. Farmer later raced in the white and gold No. 97 car. In the mid 60's, however, Farmer raced a white, gold, and red Ford Fairlane, No. F-97.

He was Davey Allison's crew chief in the Busch Series.

Farmer has retained his skills as a driver in spite of his age. He competed in two Busch Grand National races in 1992, and the season opening ARCA event at Daytona in 1993. In June 2005, Farmer, nearly aged 80, turned heads in winning a heat over current NASCAR Sprint Cup stars, and finished 8th in the feature during the Sprint Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway, owned by Tony Stewart.

As of 2021, Farmer still regularly competes in a late model at Talladega Short Track,[4] a 1/3 mile oval dirt track in Eastaboga, Alabama located near the Talladega Superspeedway.[5][1] His grandson, Lee Burdett, also races there.[1]

Farmer's house, race shop, race hauler, and dirt late model were damaged by a tornado in March 2021.[6]

Awards[]

His accolades are numerous, being a member of five halls of fame. Farmer was named one of the 50 Greatest Drivers in NASCAR history in 1998. He was a member of the first Class of Inductees into the Talladega-Texaco Walk Of Fame. When the International Motorsports Hall of Fame inducted Farmer, they had to waive their rule of 5 years of retirement – they figured he never would retire. Red Farmer was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2022.[7]

Helicopter crash[]

On July 12, 1993, Farmer was a passenger in a helicopter crash at Talladega Superspeedway that took the life of NASCAR Winston Cup driver Davey Allison, which occurred as Allison was attempting to land the aircraft in a nearby parking lot. The two were en route to the track in order to watch David Bonnett (son of fellow Alabama Gang driver Neil Bonnett) drive in a practice session.[8] Farmer suffered a broken collarbone and fractured ribs in the crash, and was at the time of Allison's death in critical but stable condition.[9]

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 NGNC Pts Ref
1953 48 Hudson PBS DAB
45 		NWS CLT RCH LAN CLB HCY MAR RSP FFS LAN TCS MCF PIF ATL DAV HBO AWS HCY DAR LAN BLF NWS MAR ATL 176th 13 [10]
1956 C97 Chevy HCY CLT PBS
15 		ASF DAB
36 		PBS
17 		ATL NWS LAN RCH CON GPS HCY HBO MAR CLT POR NYF MAS MCF POR AWS RSP PIF CSF CHI MGY OKL ROA PIF POR DAR LAN POR CLB HBO CLT MAR HCY 154th - [11]
1960 88 Ford CLB DAY
20 		DAY DAY
56 		NWS CLB MAR BGS GPS AWS DAR PIF HBO RCH HMS CLT BGS DAY HEI MBS ATL BIR AWS PIF CLB SBO BGS DAR HCY CSF HBO MAR NWS CLT RCH ATL 131st 120 [12]
1962 23 Ford CON AWS DAY DAY
11 		DAY
40 		CON AWS HBO RCH NWS GPS MBS MAR BGS BRI RCH CON DAR PIF CLT ATL BGS AUG RCH SBO DAY CLB ASH GPS AUG MBS BRI CHT HUN AWS BGS PIF DAR HCY RCH DTS AUG MAR NWS ATL 90th 360 [13]
1965 26 Ford RSD DAY DAY DAY
36 		PIF AWS RCH HBO ATL GPS NWS MAR CLB BRI DAR BGS CLT ASH NSV ATL GPS MBS DAY ODS ISP GLN BRI AWS PIF AUG CLB DTS DAR HCY LIN ODS RCH MAR NWS HBO CAR 104th 208 [14]
1967 Ben Arnold 76 Ford RSD DAY DAY
14 		DAY
42 		AWS BRI GPS BGS ATL CLB NWS MAR RCH DAR CLT BIR CAR GPS MGY DAY TRN FDA BRI ATL CLB DAR HCY RCH MAR NWS 54th 2546 [15]
Gray Racing 97 Ford CLT
31 		CAR
11 		AWS
1968 97 Ford
4 		MGY
29 		RSD DAY
43 		BRI RCH ATL
30 		HCY GPS CLB NWS MAR AUG AWS DAR BLV LGY CLT BIR CAR GPS DAY ISP FDA TRN BRI ATL
34 		CLB AWS SBO DAR HCY RCH BLV MAR NWS CLT
26 		CAR
31 		JFC 50th 407 [16]
1969 2 Chevy MGR MGY
20 		RSD DAY DAY DAY CAR BRI ATL CLB GPS RCH NWS MAR AWS DAR CLT MCH GPS DAY DOV TRN BRI ATL MCH BGS AWS DAR HCY RCH TAL CLB MAR NWS CLT AUG CAR MGR TWS 92nd 31 [17]
1971 44 Ford RSD DAY DAY
10 		DAY
32 		NA - [18]
46
40 		RCH CAR BRI ATL CLB GPS NWS MAR DAR TAL CLT DOV MCH HOU GPS DAY BRI TRN NSV ATL BGS MCH TAL CLB DAR MAR CLT DOV CAR MGR RCH NWS TWS

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 97 Ford RSD DAY
30 		RCH ONT
41 		CAR ATL
31 		BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL
39 		CLT DOV MCH RSD TWS DAY BRI TRN ATL TAL
4 		MCH NSV DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR TWS 63rd 749.5 [19]
1973 RSD DAY
32 		RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL
32 		NSV CLT DOV TWS RSD MCH DAY BRI ATL TAL
32 		NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR 72nd - [20]
1974 RSD DAY
DNQ 		RCH CAR BRI ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL
27 		NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC TAL
23 		MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR ONT 76th 5.22 [21]
1975 RSD DAY
QL† 		RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL
37 		NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL
44 		MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT 96th 83 [22]
† – Qualified for Bob Burcham
Daytona 500[]
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1960 Ford 39 56
1962 Ford 23 40
1965 Ford 42 36
1967 Ben Arnold Ford 28 42
1968 Ford 30 43
1971 Ford 22 32
1972 Ford 18 30
1973 23 32
1974 DNQ
1975 QL

Busch Series[]

NASCAR Busch 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 NBSC Pts Ref
1992 Allison Racing 28 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR BRI HCY DUB NZH CLT DOV ROU MYB GLN VOL NHA TAL
22 		IRP
17 		MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT MAR CAR HCY 72nd 209 [23]

ARCA Re/Max Series[]

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

ARCA Re/Max 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 ARMC Pts Ref
Corvin Racing 97 Chevy DAY
3
3 		ATL ISF DSF TOL 59th - [24]
White Racing 97 Buick DAY ATL TAL
24
23 		BLN DSF TOL 59th - [25]
99 DAY
37 		49th - [26]
97
3 		TOL TAL
10 		ISF DSF
DAY
2 		54th - [27]
Allison Racing 28 Buick TAL
1*
27 		ISF DSF
DAY
8
25 		TAL
30 		ISF TOL DSF 52nd - [28]
Ragan Racing 97 Ford DAY
7
DNQ 		TOL 69th - [29]
74 TAL
4 		MCH ISF TOL DSF
Compton Racing Ford DAY
42 		ATL TOL MCH TAL MCH ISF TOL DSF 117th - [30]
69 DAY
6 		TOL MCH ISF DSF 125th - [31]
Allison Racing 97 Ford DAY
28 		TOL MCH KIL ISF DSF TOL 113th - [32]
ML Motorsports 97 Pontiac SLM KAN POC MCH TOL
34 		52nd 540 [33]
75
23 		KEN
32 		POC NSH ISF
32
4 		CHI TAL
ML Motorsports 97 Chevy DAY SLM TOL KAN POC MCH BLN KEN LER NSH ISF
5 		TOL DSF
10 		CHI TAL 68th 400 [34]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "1970 Nashville ARCA 200 winner Red Farmer Still at the Controls". ARCA. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  2. ^ Glory Road Preview: Modified To Cup Racing In NASCAR, retrieved 2020-07-08
  3. ^ "Early Modified racer of Alabama's Red Farmer | Old race cars, Racing car model, Stock car racing". Pinterest. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  4. ^ Demmons, Doug (September 26, 2013). "NASCAR legend Red Farmer has a prescription for what ails short tracks". The Birmingham News. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Talladega Short Track - Track Information". Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  6. ^ Walters, Shane. "Red Farmer's house, hauler and race car damaged in Alabama tornado (Photos)". RacingNews.co.
  7. ^ "Red Farmer | NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee". Nascar Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2021-11-15.
  8. ^ Siano, Joseph (July 14, 1993). "Davey Allison, Stock-Car Driver, Dies at 32 After Helicopter Crash". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  9. ^ Hinton, Ed (July 26, 1993). "Requiem For A Racing Man". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Red Farmer – 1953 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  11. ^ "Red Farmer – 1956 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  12. ^ "Red Farmer – 1960 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  13. ^ "Red Farmer – 1962 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  14. ^ "Red Farmer – 1965 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  15. ^ "Red Farmer – 1967 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  16. ^ "Red Farmer – 1968 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  17. ^ "Red Farmer – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "Red Farmer – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  19. ^ "Red Farmer – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  20. ^ "Red Farmer – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  21. ^ "Red Farmer – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  22. ^ "Red Farmer – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  23. ^ "Red Farmer – 1992 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  24. ^ "Red Farmer – 1985 ARCA Talladega SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  25. ^ "Red Farmer – 1986 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  26. ^ "Red Farmer – 1987 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  27. ^ "Red Farmer – 1988 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  28. ^ "Red Farmer – 1989 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  29. ^ "Red Farmer – 1990 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  30. ^ "Red Farmer – 1991 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  31. ^ "Red Farmer – 1992 ARCA SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  32. ^ "Red Farmer – 1993 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  33. ^ "Red Farmer – 2002 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  34. ^ "Red Farmer – 2004 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2019.

External links[]

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