Gene Felton

Gene Felton (May 11, 1936 – November 6, 2020) was an American race car driver. He hailed from Atlanta, Georgia. Felton graduated from the University of North Carolina and served in the United States Marine Corps (USMC). He resided in Roswell, Georgia. at the time of his death

Amateur racing career Felton began his motor sports career drag racing. In 1954, he had six wins as a drag racer.

From 1958 to 1960, while in the USMC, Felton raced motorcycles in Okinawa, Japan and won a championship consisting of 13 Pacer's Motorcycle Club Okinawa wins.

In 1971, Felton was the SCCA D Production Class Southeastern regional champion. Also in 1971, he was the Peachbowl Speedway Ministock champion. In 1971, he also competed in the NASCAR Grand American series and garnered three top-five finishes. Felton would go on to having 13 wins at Daytona.

In 1973, Felton won another 250-mile race, the IMSA Camel GT series Paul Revere 250, at Daytona. He drove the same big block Camaro from the 1972 Presidential 250 during this race. In 1976, Gene qualified for his first NASCAR Grand National race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway Dixie 500. He finished 16th driving for Junie Donlavey.

Also in 1980, Felton had three wins at the Dixie Speedway racing on a 3/8 mile dirt track. He also began buying and restoring older NASCAR race cars at this time.

Later years and death From 1992 to 2019, Felton restored road course race-ready cars along with other select race cars. Gene also raced in historic stock car racing events in which he had gathered over 45 wins.

Felton died on November 6, 2020, after long period of emphysema.

Honors 1979 - IMSA Mechanic of the Year

Feb 1984 - Motor Trend Illustrated Racer of the Week

Apr 1985 - Champion Racer of the Week

1993 - Invited & Competed in Fastmasters Championship

1993 - Nominated for International Motorsports Hall of Fame

1999 - Invited & Competed in Pro-Am Champion Celebrity Race in Tustin, CA

In 2003, Felton was nominated to the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame.

2003-2009 - Invited and Competed in Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, U.K.

In 2005, Felton was inducted into the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame. He had 12 championships, 50 total professional wins, 215 podium finishes, won 70 poles, and held or holds 63 records in a short professional career and 15 racing series. Gene Felton has driven for 42 teams and in cars built by 14 different manufacturers. He has been called "one of America's top road race drivers."

2009 - Victory Lane Magazine Award

Darlington Historic Racing Festival