Grant Adcox
Encyclopedia
Grant Adcox was a stock car racing driver who died in a single-car accident in the 1989 Atlanta Journal 500 in the NASCAR
Winston Cup Series.
.
In that year's Winston 500
- considered one of the crown jewels of the sport - held at the fastest track on the circuit, the Talladega Superspeedway
, Adcox and his father qualified for the event. With a hundred laps in the books, a caution came out as Donnie Allison's
clutch burned out and David Sisco
's motor went up in smoke. Gary Bettenhausen
, who had pitted a lap after the leaders, and was up on jacks as young Adcox came down for service. Adcox's car hit an oil and water patch and slammed straight into the Bettenhausen Matador, crushing catch can man Don Miller
between the cars. A young crew member of the Nord Krauskopf
team who was pitted nearby, Buddy Parrott, came rushing down to help, while Penske crewmembers John Woodward and John Watson were also injured. Miller was taken to the hospital and eventually had his right leg amputated. Learning of the extent of Miller's injuries, Adcox went into shock, and his car was withdrawn from the event.
Adcox continued to run sporadic Winston Cup races among the years. Adcox qualified for the 1975 Talladega 500, but his crew chief Gene Lovell suffered a heart attack and died in their garage. The car was withdrawn, Adcox filled in for another team, in an ironic twist of fate, as the race was delayed a week by heavy rains. The first alternate, Tiny Lund
, was given their spot on the grid. Lund would be killed in a violent lap seven crash.
The 1978 Winston 500
at Talladega would be Adcox's finest hour, as Krystal Restaurants came onboard for a partial season with sponsorship money and in his family-owned Chevrolet. Adcox finished a strong fifth in his career best Winston Cup finish.
But if Adcox's career had a theme, it was being strapped for cash. A year later, he was again sponsorless - he timed in fourth for the 1979 Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway
but his car's raw speed did not pay off, and his motor expired early. He would continue to run sporadic events over the years but never again contended.
Adcox's primary claim to fame was for being a strong competitor in ARCA competition, a lesser stock car series that utilizes older Winston Cup cars and more grass roots based operations. He was especially dominant on the superspeedways—he won a record four of them in 1986 and had eight total superspeedway triumphs in his career. Five victories coming at Talladega.
For 1989, Adcox had signed up with Bumper to Bumper
All Pro Autoparts and in a family-owned Chevrolet
planned to run in a handful of Winston Cup events.
, Adcox crashed heavily on lap 198 of the event and died of major chest and head injuries, also suffering a heart attack as result of the crash. Upon investigation, it was determined that the severe impact had torn his improperly mounted racing seat away from its mount entirely, and this led to Adcox's death. It also led to new safety regulations on the way seats were mounted for the 1990 season.
ARCA's sportsmanship award, the H.G. Adcox Award, is named in Adcox's honor, and is awarded annually by his father Herb. The Grant Adcox Memorial is also held annually in his honor at North Georgia Speedway and a subsequent event has been held also in Cleveland
, Tennessee
.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Winston Cup Series.
Career
Adcox's Winston Cup career started in 1974, running a handful of races for father Herb Adcox with sponsorship backing from the family's Chevrolet dealership in Chattanooga, TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
In that year's Winston 500
Winston 500
Winston 500 may refer to the following NASCAR Sprint Cup races:* Aaron's 499, held at Talladega Superspeedway from 1971 to 1993 and in 1997* Good Sam Club 500, held at Talladega Superspeedway from 1998 to 2000...
- considered one of the crown jewels of the sport - held at the fastest track on the circuit, the Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
, Adcox and his father qualified for the event. With a hundred laps in the books, a caution came out as Donnie Allison's
Donnie Allison
Dunkiny "Donnie" Allison is a former driver on the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup circuit, who won ten times during his racing career, which spanned the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. He was part of the "Alabama Gang," and is the brother of 1983 champion Bobby Allison and uncle of Davey Allison...
clutch burned out and David Sisco
David Sisco
David Sisco is a retired NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who has led 98 laps out of the 33668 that he raced in his entire career. Sisco also managed to earn $251,359 in his seven-year NASCAR career . His average starting position is 22nd place while he managed to finish in 19th place on average...
's motor went up in smoke. Gary Bettenhausen
Gary Bettenhausen
Gary Bettenhausen is a retired American auto racing driver. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois, raised in Tinley Park, Illinois, and currently resides in Monrovia, Indiana.-Racing family:...
, who had pitted a lap after the leaders, and was up on jacks as young Adcox came down for service. Adcox's car hit an oil and water patch and slammed straight into the Bettenhausen Matador, crushing catch can man Don Miller
Don Miller
Don Miller may refer to:*Don Miller , member of the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, the backfield of Notre Dame's 1924 football team*Don Miller Don Miller may refer to:*Don Miller (American football), member of the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, the backfield of Notre Dame's 1924 football team*Don...
between the cars. A young crew member of the Nord Krauskopf
Nord Krauskopf
Nord Krauskopf was a former NASCAR Winston Cup Series race car owner whose career spanned from 1966 to 1977. He was the owner of K&K Insurance and a part of the business since its foundation in 1952. This was a position that he kept in the corporate world while having a second career in the...
team who was pitted nearby, Buddy Parrott, came rushing down to help, while Penske crewmembers John Woodward and John Watson were also injured. Miller was taken to the hospital and eventually had his right leg amputated. Learning of the extent of Miller's injuries, Adcox went into shock, and his car was withdrawn from the event.
Adcox continued to run sporadic Winston Cup races among the years. Adcox qualified for the 1975 Talladega 500, but his crew chief Gene Lovell suffered a heart attack and died in their garage. The car was withdrawn, Adcox filled in for another team, in an ironic twist of fate, as the race was delayed a week by heavy rains. The first alternate, Tiny Lund
Tiny Lund
DeWayne Louis "Tiny" Lund was a NASCAR driver. He was ironically nicknamed "Tiny" due to his rather large and imposing size.-Background:...
, was given their spot on the grid. Lund would be killed in a violent lap seven crash.
The 1978 Winston 500
Winston 500
Winston 500 may refer to the following NASCAR Sprint Cup races:* Aaron's 499, held at Talladega Superspeedway from 1971 to 1993 and in 1997* Good Sam Club 500, held at Talladega Superspeedway from 1998 to 2000...
at Talladega would be Adcox's finest hour, as Krystal Restaurants came onboard for a partial season with sponsorship money and in his family-owned Chevrolet. Adcox finished a strong fifth in his career best Winston Cup finish.
But if Adcox's career had a theme, it was being strapped for cash. A year later, he was again sponsorless - he timed in fourth for the 1979 Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
but his car's raw speed did not pay off, and his motor expired early. He would continue to run sporadic events over the years but never again contended.
Adcox's primary claim to fame was for being a strong competitor in ARCA competition, a lesser stock car series that utilizes older Winston Cup cars and more grass roots based operations. He was especially dominant on the superspeedways—he won a record four of them in 1986 and had eight total superspeedway triumphs in his career. Five victories coming at Talladega.
For 1989, Adcox had signed up with Bumper to Bumper
Bumper to Bumper
Bumper to Bumper is the third album from San Francisco, California, USA, alternative rock band Stroke 9. It was released in 1995.-Track listing:# "Washin' + Wonderin'"# "All U Can Take"# "Not Nothin'"# "Little Black Backpack"# "Visualize"...
All Pro Autoparts and in a family-owned Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
planned to run in a handful of Winston Cup events.
Aftermath
In the season finale at Atlanta Motor SpeedwayAtlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
, Adcox crashed heavily on lap 198 of the event and died of major chest and head injuries, also suffering a heart attack as result of the crash. Upon investigation, it was determined that the severe impact had torn his improperly mounted racing seat away from its mount entirely, and this led to Adcox's death. It also led to new safety regulations on the way seats were mounted for the 1990 season.
ARCA's sportsmanship award, the H.G. Adcox Award, is named in Adcox's honor, and is awarded annually by his father Herb. The Grant Adcox Memorial is also held annually in his honor at North Georgia Speedway and a subsequent event has been held also in Cleveland
Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.