G. T. Tallas

George Thalassinos "G. T." Tallas (January 31, 1944 – November 20, 2023) was an American professional stock car racing driver. He competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and NASCAR Winston West Series.

Racing career Tallas was first a NASCAR driver between 1969 and 1982. He simultaneously made his NASCAR Grand National Series and NASCAR Grand National West debut in the 1970 Motor Trend 500 at Riverside International Raceway, where he finished 31st due to engine issues; he made 15 more Grand National West starts in 1970, scoring five top-tens, and finished 24th in the second Riverside combination race. Tallas ran the first three races in the renamed Winston West Series in 1971, finishing seventh at Orange Show Speedway and failing to finish the combination races at Riverside and Ontario Motor Speedway. Tallas only made one NASCAR start in 1972, finishing 40th in the Winston Cup race at Ontario. After not competing in NASCAR in 1973, Tallas returned for five Winston West races in 1974, failing to qualify at Altamont Speedway and finishing one race, where he scored a season-best sixteenth at Corona Speedway. Tallas also attempted to qualify for the 1974 Daytona 500, but failed to make the field after finishing 20th in his qualifier, the last car running. Tallas ran the Winston Cup season opener at Riverside in 1975, finishing 29th; he again failed to qualify for the Daytona 500, finishing 17th in his qualifier.

In 1995, twenty years after his last NASCAR attempt, Tallas would compete in the inaugural NASCAR SuperTruck Series by Craftsman season, making three attempts with sponsorship from Hot Wheels; he would finish 22nd at Sears Point Raceway, 34th at Mesa Marin Raceway, and failed to qualify at Phoenix International Raceway. Tallas made four attempts in 1996, but failed to qualify for each of them.

Death Tallas died on November 20, 2023, following a battle with a stage four glioblastoma brain tumor.

Motorsports career results