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Harry Melling (NASCAR)
Encyclopedia
Harry Melling was the team owner of Melling Racing
, which won the 1988 NASCAR
championship with Bill Elliott
.
. Melling succeeded his father Benjamin as President of Melling Tool 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.
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.
Melling Racing
Melling Racing was a NASCAR team that ran from 1982 to 2002. The team won the 1988 championship with driver Bill Elliott.-History:Owner Harry Melling first became involved in NASCAR when his company Melling Tool sponsored Benny Parsons in 1979. The team began in 1982 with driver Bill Elliott by...
, which won the 1988 NASCAR
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...
championship with Bill Elliott
Bill Elliott
William Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
.
Background
Melling graduated from Ferris State UniversityFerris State University
Ferris State University is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally in the US Senate where...
. Melling succeeded his father Benjamin as President of Melling Tool in 1975. Melling Tool is a maker of automotive products. Melling also owned Treetops Sylvan Resort in Gaylord, Michigan
Gaylord, Michigan
Gaylord is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,681. It is the county seat of Otsego County. The city is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord; it is by far the smallest settlement serving as the location of an active Roman...
, turning a small local ski hill into a national skiing and golfing destination.
NASCAR team owner
Benny Parsons
Benjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
. Melling Racing won the NASCAR Winston Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
points championship with Bill Elliott.
Awards
- posthumously inducted in the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of FameMichigan Motor Sports Hall of FameThe Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame is a non-profit Hall of Fame for Michigan racers.It was founded in 1982 by Dick Lee Executive Director, Emeritus and was incorporated April 19, 1982 as a non-profit 501 non-stock Michigan corporation....
(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.