Hershel McGriff

Hershel Eldridge McGriff Sr. (born December 14, 1927) is an American professional stock car racing driver. A long-time competitor in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, formerly known as the Winston West Series, he won the series' 1986 championship, and is also a four-time winner in Grand National competition. He most recently drove the No. 04 Toyota Camry for Bill McAnally Racing in 2018.

Racing career McGriff first raced on September 16, 1945, right after racing resumed in the United States after World War II. He was the winner of the first Carrera Panamericana in 1950, where he met NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. France convinced McGriff to come south and race in NASCAR races at Daytona Beach, the first Southern 500 race at Darlington Raceway, Detroit, and Raleigh. He had seventeen top-ten finishes in 24 events and finished sixth in the final points standings. McGriff's average finishing position was higher than points champion Lee Petty.

In November 1996, McGriff made the trip with several NASCAR champions, current Winston Cup, Busch Grand National, and Craftsman Truck Series drivers to Japan's Suzuka Raceway for an exhibition race. He started 26th and finished 25th in what was called the NASCAR Thunder Special Suzuka.

McGriff announced his retirement following the 2002 season.

With later starts in the Camping World/K&N Pro Series East and West, McGriff set and broke his records as the oldest driver in series history.

In 2018, at the age of ninety, McGriff announced plans to run the K&N West races at Tucson Speedway, and upon starting became the oldest person to contest in a race sanctioned by NASCAR.

Career awards McGriff was inducted in the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame in its first class in 2002.

McGriff, who retired from driving at age 74 said, "This is fantastic, getting in the Hall of Fame, but, hey, I might not be through yet. When I turn 80 [in two years], I just might go out to a short track and show the young guys that I can still do it."

DAB CLT NMO GAR HBO ASF NWS MAR CAN CLS CLB DSP GAR

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11

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77

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NWS

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1952 Beryl Jackson 3 Olds PBS DAB JSP NWS MAR CLB ATL CCS LAN DAR DSP CAN HAY FMS HBO CLT

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NA 0 1953 McGriff Motorsports 5 Olds PBS DAB HAR NWS CLT RCH CCS LAN CLB HCY MAR PMS

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51st 322

98

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Frank Christian 14 Olds

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Unknown 8 Jaguar

Beryl Jackson 04 Plymouth

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Robert Koehler 41 Plymouth

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Winston Cup Series

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1973 Beryl Jackson Plymouth 6 5 1974 Petty Enterprises Dodge 8 39 1975 Friez Enterprises Chevy 38 30 1977 Puro Racing Ford DNQ

K&N Pro Series West

ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) ARCA Hooters SuperCar 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 Pts Ref 1993 TTC Motrosports Inc. 04W Chevy DAY FIF TWS4 TAL KIL CMS FRS TOL POC MCH FRS POC KIL ISF DSF TOL SLM WIN ATL NA 0

24 Hours of Le Mans results 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1976 NASCAR – McGriff Doug McGriff Dodge Charger NASCAR 2 DNF DNF 1982 Stratagraph Inc. Dick Brooks Tom Williams Chevrolet Camaro IMSAGTO 141 NC NCSource: