Nord Krauskopf
Encyclopedia
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 motorsports industry as a car owner. This dual role lasted until the 1970s when he left the NASCAR circuit to focus on running his insurance company. His team would field mostly Dodge Charger
s and Dodge Daytona
s to the Cup Series races.
, Charlie Glotzbach
, Bobby Isaac
, Sam McQuagg
, and Bobby Isaac
. Krauskopf has seen his drivers participate in 345 races with 43 victories (first victory at the 1968 Columbia 200
- last victory at the 1976 Dixie 500
), 171 finishes in the "top five," and 214 finishes in the "top ten." These drivers also managed to lead 15,705 laps out of 90,001 while finishing 12th place on average. Krauskopf also become one of the first millionaire
s in NASCAR history by collecting a grand total of $1,225,994 in his 12-year career ($ in today's money) while his employees drove 91890.6 miles (147,883.2 km) of racing action. He would also see his drivers go to the pole position
69 times. A major part of Krauskopf's career would be Bobby Isaac's championship victory during the 1970
NASCAR Winston Cup Season.
The constant changes of NASCAR in the 1970s would render Krauskopf's team uncompetitive. As a result, he would constantly be at odds with NASCAR officials. Krauskopf would eventually sell his ownership share in the original company during the early 1990s. He died in 1994.
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 race car owner whose career spanned from 1966
1966 in NASCAR
1966 in NASCAR evolved into the first of three NASCAR Grand National championships for David Pearson, whose 15 wins through the season was second only to Tim Flock's 18 victories in 1955 at that time. NASCAR allowed the return of the Chrysler Hemi engine in 1966, and at the same time Ford decided...
to 1977
1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The 1977 NASCAR Grand National Winston Cup Series season began on Sunday, January 16 and ended on Sunday, November 20. Cale Yarborough driving the Junior Johnson #11 Holly Farms Chevrolet won his second consecutive NASCAR Grand National Series Winston Cup Championship...
. He was the owner of K&K Insurance
K&K Insurance
K&K Insurance was started back in 1952 by Nord Krauskopf and his wife Theodora in order to manage and market a benevolent fund for injured race car drivers.-Summary:...
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 motorsports industry as a car owner. This dual role lasted until the 1970s when he left the NASCAR circuit to focus on running his insurance company. His team would field mostly Dodge Charger
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate...
s and Dodge Daytona
Dodge Daytona
The first car that carried the Daytona name was a sporty version of the Studebaker Lark which was produced from 1963 to 1966 with standard bucket seats and available with an optional Studebaker Avanti V8 high-performance engine....
s to the Cup Series races.
Summary
He was known for employing veteran NASCAR drivers like Bobby AllisonBobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
, Charlie Glotzbach
Charlie Glotzbach
Charles "Charlie: Glotzbach is a former ARCA and was a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. Charlie holds one of the oldest race records in NASCAR. He was also known as "The Chargin' Comet" and "Chargin' Charlie"....
, Bobby Isaac
Bobby Isaac
Bobby Isaac is a former NASCAR Grand National champion.-Early life:Isaac grew up on a farm near Catawba, North Carolina, the second youngest of nine children...
, Sam McQuagg
Sam McQuagg
Samuel "Sam" McQuagg was an American former NASCAR Rookie of the Year driver. He died of cancer on January 3, 2009 at the age of 73...
, and Bobby Isaac
Bobby Isaac
Bobby Isaac is a former NASCAR Grand National champion.-Early life:Isaac grew up on a farm near Catawba, North Carolina, the second youngest of nine children...
. Krauskopf has seen his drivers participate in 345 races with 43 victories (first victory at the 1968 Columbia 200
1968 Columbia 200
The 1968 Columbia 200 was a NASCAR Grand National Series racing event that took place on May 30, 1976 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.-Summary:...
- last victory at the 1976 Dixie 500
1976 Dixie 500
The 1976 Dixie 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on November 7, 1976 at Atlanta International Raceway in the American community of Hampton, Georgia.-Summary:...
), 171 finishes in the "top five," and 214 finishes in the "top ten." These drivers also managed to lead 15,705 laps out of 90,001 while finishing 12th place on average. Krauskopf also become one of the first millionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
s in NASCAR history by collecting a grand total of $1,225,994 in his 12-year career ($ in today's money) while his employees drove 91890.6 miles (147,883.2 km) of racing action. He would also see his drivers go to the pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
69 times. A major part of Krauskopf's career would be Bobby Isaac's championship victory during the 1970
1970 in NASCAR
The 1970 NASCAR Grand National Series season began on Sunday January 18 and ended on Sunday November 22. Bobby Isaac was the champions of the series as NASCAR transitioned itself from the Grand National era to the Winston Cup era...
NASCAR Winston Cup Season.
The constant changes of NASCAR in the 1970s would render Krauskopf's team uncompetitive. As a result, he would constantly be at odds with NASCAR officials. Krauskopf would eventually sell his ownership share in the original company during the early 1990s. He died in 1994.