Jody Ridley is a former 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...

 driver. He won the 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award and one race at Dover International Speedway

Dover International Speedway

Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...

 the next year, the only Cup victory for Donlavey Racing

Donlavey Racing

Donlavey Racing is a stock car racing team that competed from 1950 until 2002 in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. It was owned by Junie Donlavey and ran a total of 863 races in NASCAR...

.

His career statistics include 140 career starts, 1 win, 7 top fives, 56 top tens, and 2 top ten points finishes (5th in 1981, and 7th in 1980).

In the 1989 Daytona 500

1989 Daytona 500

The 31st annual Daytona 500 was held February 19 at Daytona International Speedway. Ken Schrader won the pole for the second time in a row.-General information:...

, Ridley took over for an injured 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...

, but he would have a hard crash later in the race.

He now resides in Chatsworth, Georgia. He was inducted in the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.

External links

• Biography at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame (PDF)