Ernie Irvan

Virgil Earnest Irvan (born January 13, 1959), occasionally referred to as Swervin' Irvan, is an American former professional stock car racing driver. A retired NASCAR competitor, he is perhaps best remembered for his comeback after a serious head injury suffered from a crash during practice at Michigan International Speedway in 1994 that left him with only a 10% chance of survival. Irvan has been inducted into numerous halls of fame and was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. After a series of injuries in the late 1990s, he retired from racing in 1999.

Early career Irvan began his racing career driving karts in California in 1968 at the age of nine.

Irvan's 1992 season was highlighted by three more victories - Sonoma in June; Daytona in July; and Talladega in July. He had three pole positions, nine top-fives, and eleven top-tens, $996,885 in winnings, and finished eleventh in the final season points standing. He scored a pair of Busch Grand National wins at Watkins Glen and Talladega. He suffered a broken collarbone in an accident during a Busch Series race in March at Atlanta and twelve finishes of 24th or worse including seven he did not finish. On November 21, 1992, he married Kim Baker.

Moving to Robert Yates Racing Irvan continued his tenure with Morgan-McClure in 1993, adding poles at Dover in June and Daytona in July and a victory at Talladega in May. In total, while driving for Morgan-McClure, Irvan obtained nine poles, seven wins, and 51 top-ten finishes in 105 starts. On July 12, 1993, Irvan experienced a significant personal loss when his friend, Davey Allison, died from injuries sustained in a helicopter crash outside of Talladega. Robert Yates, Allison's team owner, asked Irvan to replace him as the driver of the No. 28 Texaco/Havoline Ford at Robert Yates Racing. Morgan-McClure was unwilling to let Irvan out of his contract with the team, and a lawsuit ensued.

After the night race at Bristol in August, Irvan was released from his duties driving the No. 4 and took over the No. 28 at the Southern 500 at Darlington the next week, where he started tenth and finished fifth. Irvan's first victory with RYR came in his fourth start with the team when he won at Martinsville later that same month. Irvan dedicated his victory that day to Allison and then followed that victory two weeks later with one at Charlotte in which he led all but six laps. Irvan scored five front-row positions (including two poles) and two victories in his nine races that season with RYR. Irvan was ranked ninth in driver standings at the time of his departure from Morgan-McClure, but he rose to sixth in the final standings. At the 1994 Brickyard 400, Irvan was a factor and was leading with five laps to go when a tire puncture forced him to pit and lose a lap.

Head injury In August 1994, Irvan was a contender for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship throughout the first twenty races of the season. Entering the GM Goodwrench Dealer 400 at Michigan on August 21, Irvan was in a close battle with Dale Earnhardt as the class of the field. They were matched on wins with three each, while Irvan led in top-five finishes and winnings and trailed Earnhardt by 27 points after having led the standings for most of the season. and lung injuries and given only a 10% chance of surviving the night. At the end of the year, Irvan was let go by Robert Yates Racing and replaced by rookie driver Kenny Irwin, Jr.

Last years in NASCAR and retirement

In 1998, Irvan joined MB2 Motorsports to drive the No. 36 Skittles Pontiac. During the year he scored eleven top-ten finishes with three pole positions despite missing the final three races while recovering from injuries suffered at Talladega in October. Irvan finished the season nineteenth in the Winston Cup points standings, earning $1,476,141. His highlight of 1998 was the birth of his son, Jared, on February 9. Irvan continued driving the No. 36 for MB2 in 1999, but with a different sponsor. M&M Mars (parent corporation of Skittles) decided to emblazon the popular M&Ms characters on the car.

On August 20, exactly five years after his near fatal accident there, Irvan crashed at Michigan while driving his own No. 84 Irvan-Simo Federated Auto Parts Pontiac in a practice session for the Busch Series race. Irvan was again airlifted from the track and was diagnosed with a mild head injury and a bruised lung as a result of the accident.

Two weeks later , on September 3, 1999, surrounded by his wife and two children, Irvan announced his retirement from driving at a tearful press conference in Darlington, South Carolina. While he would fully recover before the end of the 1999 season, the reasoning for his retirement was to prevent future incidents while he had a family to support.

Irvan finished his Winston Cup career as a driver with fifteen victories, 22 poles, 68 top-fives, 124 top-tens and over eleven-million dollars in career earnings.

As of 2007, he is the crew chief on his son Jared's quarter midget.

In June 2016, Irvan was inducted into the Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame. He currently helps out his son Jared in his racing career and spends time with his family on their farm.

Career highlights

Winston Cup victories (15 career wins) 1997 (One win) Miller 400 (Michigan) 1996 (Two wins) Jiffy Lube 300 (Loudon), Miller 400 (Richmond) 1994 (Three wins) Pontiac Excitement 400 (Richmond), Purolator 500 (Atlanta), Save Mart Supermarkets 300 (Sonoma) 1993 (Three wins) Winston 500 (Talladega), Goody's 500 (Martinsville), Mello Yello 500 (Charlotte) 1992 (Three wins) Save Mart 300K (Sonoma), Pepsi 400 (Daytona), DieHard 500 (Talladega) 1991 (Two wins) Daytona 500 (Daytona), Budweiser At The Glen (Watkins Glen) 1990 (One win) Busch 500 (Bristol)

Busch Series victories (three career wins) 1992 (Two wins) Fay's 150 (Watkins Glen), Fram Filter 500K (Talladega) 1991 (One win) AC-Delco 200 (Rockingham)

Motorsports career 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 32 33 34 Pts Ref 1987 Reno Enterprises 56 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR NWS BRI MAR TAL CLT DOV POC RSD MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR 53rd 324 U.S. Racing 6 Chevy MAR NWS RSD ATL 1988 2 DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI TAL CLT DOV RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL DAR DOV 26th 2319 Pontiac NWS MAR GLN MCH BRI RCH MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL 1989 DAY CAR ATL RCH DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL 22nd 2919 1990 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford DAY RCH CAR 9th 3593 Morgan-McClure Motorsports 4 Olds ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC MAR NWS Chevy TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR PHO ATL 1991 DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY5* POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 5th 3925 1992 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 11th 3580 1993 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL GLN MCH BRI 6th 3834 Yates Racing 28 Ford DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 1994 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA30* POC TAL IND GLN MCHWth† BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 22nd 3026 1995 88 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO40* ATL 48th 354 1996 28 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 10th 3632 1997 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR TEX BRI MAR SON TAL CLT13* DOV POC MCH CAL DAY NHA POC IND10* GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV MAR CLT TAL CAR PHO ATL 14th 3534 1998 MB2 Motorsports 36 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX43 MAR TAL CAL CLT DOV RCH MCH POC SON NHA POC IND GLN MCH6* BRI NHA DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT TAL DAY PHO CAR ATL 19th 3262 1999 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR TEX BRI43 MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV MCH POC SON DAY NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV MAR CLT TAL CAR PHO HOM ATL 40th 1915 † - Withdrew after getting injured in practice

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1988 U.S. Racing Chevrolet DNQ 1989 Pontiac 33 41 1990 Donlavey Racing Ford 18 13 1991 Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevy 2 1 1992 7 28 1993 8 37 1994 Yates Racing Ford 3 2 1996 Yates Racing Ford 2 35 1997 5 20 1998 MB2 Motorsports Pontiac 10 6 1999 31 14

Busch Series NASCAR Busch 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 32 Pts Ref 1986 Reno Enterprises 09 Pontiac DAY CAR HCY MAR BRI DAR SBO LGY JFC DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO RAL OXF SBO HCY LGY ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR ROU CLT CAR MAR 68th 140 1990 Rodney Franklin 58 Pontiac DAY RCH CAR MAR HCY DAR BRI LAN SBO NZH HCY 42nd 742 Henderson Motorsports 75 Olds CLT DOV ROU VOL MYB OXF NHA SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NHA CAR MAR 1991 Ernie Irvan Racing 10 Chevy DAY RCH CAR MAR VOL HCY DAR BRI22* LAN SBO NZH CLT DOV13* ROU HCY MYB NHA SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT NHA CAR MAR 28th 1551 4 GLN OXF 1992 DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR BRI HCY LAN DUB NZH CLT DOV ROU MYB GLN VOL NHA TAL MCH CLT MAR CAR HCY 31st 1237 Olds IRP ROU NHA33* BRI DAR RCH29* DOV 1993 Chevy DAY CAR RCH DAR BRI CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL IRP24* MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU 39th 901 Olds HCY27* ROU MAR NZH 41 Chevy CLT BACE Motorsports 74 Chevy MAR CAR Ken Schrader Racing 52 Chevy HCY ATL 1994 Ernie Irvan Racing 28 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR HCY BRI ROU NHA43 NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW SBO TAL HCY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT MAR CAR 51st 558 1995 DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM NA - 1997 Phoenix Racing 4 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL LVS DAR HCY TEX BRI NSV TAL NHA NZH CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB GTY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAL CAR HOM 101st 79 1999 Irvan-Simo Racing 14 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR TEX NSV BRI TAL CAL NHA RCH NZH CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB PPR GTY IRP 107th 107 84 MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR MEM PHO HOM

Craftsman Truck Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck 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 Pts Ref 1995 Irvan-Simo Racing 28 Ford PHO TUS SGS MMR POR EVG I70 LVL BRI MLW CNS HPT IRP FLM RCH MAR NWS SON MMR PHO 45th 408 1996 HOM PHO POR EVG TUS CNS HPT BRI NZH MLW LVL I70 IRP FLM GLN NSV RCH NHA MAR NWS SON MMR PHO LVS 60th 39 1997 WDW TUS HOM PHO POR EVG I70 NHA TEX BRI NZH MLW LVL CNS HPT IRP FLM NSV GLN RCH MAR SON MMR CAL PHO LVS 52nd 385 1998 WDW HOM PHO POR EVG I70 GLN TEX BRI MLW NZH CAL PPR IRP NHA FLM NSV HPT LVL RCH MEM GTY MAR SON MMR PHO LVS 50th 340 1999 44 HOM PHO EVG MMR MAR MEM PPR I70 BRI TEX PIR GLN MLW NSV NZH MCH NHA IRP GTY HPT RCH LVS LVL TEX CAL 78th 142

ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pts Ref 1989 Tri-Star Motorsports 18 Pontiac DAY ATL KIL TAL FRS POC KIL HAG POC TAL DEL FRS ISF TOL DSF SLM ATL 105th -