Bruce Hill

Bruce Hill (July 9, 1949 – May 14, 2017) was an American stock car racing driver from Topeka, Kansas. He competed in the Winston Cup Series, ARCA, and in the NASCAR West Series. He also competed in late model races around his hometown later in life.

Personal life Hill was born on July 9, 1949, in Topeka, Kansas, and graduated from Shawnee Heights High School. He resided in and around the Topeka metropolitan area his later years of life, raising American Quarter Horses. Hill died on May 14, 2017, due to issues with esophageal cancer.

NASCAR career In 1974, Hill began racing in NASCAR in the Winston Cup Series and the NASCAR West Series. He only competed in one race in both series the same year. The race in 1974 was the only race Hill would run in the West series.

One year later, Hill won the Rookie of the Year award in the Winston Cup Series. During that season, he competed in all but four of the season's thirty races. Among his highlights were top-five finishes at Rockingham Speedway, Darlington Raceway and Dover International Speedway. Still running as an independent driver, Hill returned to the series again in 1976, competing in 22 events, which he recorded only four top-ten finishes and finished 23rd in the standings. In 1977, Hill was able to record four top-tens and a 29th place finish in points after participating in sixteen events. During the following year, he only participated in fourteen events, and recorded two top-tens with a 32nd place finish in the point standings, but benefited form teaming up with Harry Clary to field cars.

For 1979, Hill teamed up with fellow owner-driver Walter Ballard for a limited slate of events. He finished 34th in points after running seven races. Continuing to race for Ballard in 1980, he finished fiftieth in points, and only competed in six races. In his final year in the Winston Cup Series, he competed in eight races and finished 43rd in points. Also in 1981, he participated in a NASCAR Late Model Sportsman race at Darlington Raceway.

Other racing While competing in the Winston Cup Series, Hill also participated in the ARCA Racing Series as well as in USAC.

Motorsports results

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

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 Pts Ref 1974 Hill Racing 47W Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC TAL MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR ONT 101st 1.575 1975 47 RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT 16th 3002 1976 RSD DAY CAR RCH BRI DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 23rd 1995 Ballard Racing 30 Chevy ATL NWS DAR 1977 Hill Racing 47 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 29th 1213 1978 Harry Clary 05 Olds RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT NSV RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 32nd 1214 1979 Ballard Racing 50 Olds RSD DAY CAR RCH ATL NWS BRI DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR ATLONT 34th 594 Buick CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC 1980 Olds RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR ATL ONT 50th 348 1981 Nelson Malloch 7 Buick RSD DAY RCH CAR 43rd 596 Hill Racing Buick ATL 50 BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1975 Hill Racing Chevrolet 20 32 1976 33 36 1977 18 25 1978 Harry Clary Oldsmobile DNQ 1979 Ballard Racing Chevrolet 17 19 1980 Oldsmobile 35 33 1981 Nelson Malloch Buick 24 39