Robert Pressley

Robert William Pressley (born April 8, 1959) is an American former NASCAR driver who previously served as the promoter at Kingsport Speedway in Kingsport, Tennessee. Pressley currently owns the restaurant Celebrity's Hotdogs in Asheville, North Carolina. Pressley was also a County Commissioner in Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Beginnings As his father, also named Robert, was a short track racer in Asheville, the younger Pressley followed a sports career. His brother, Charley, has been a long-time crew chief in the NASCAR level. Pressley began running at New Asheville Speedway and Greenville-Pickens Speedway and won championships at both tracks. He also put together 150 wins in various Late Model Series in the Southeast. In 1984, Pressley made his NASCAR debut in the Busch Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, finishing 26th. Five years later, Pressley ran a limited schedule in the Busch Series, and won in just his twelfth series start at Orange County Speedway. He ran full seasons from 1991–1994, his best year coming in 1992 when he won races and finished fifth in points. In 1994, he ran three races in the Winston Cup Series in a car sponsored by Manheim Auctions, his best finish being a 31st at Charlotte. In 1990, Pressley was involved in Michael Waltrip's horrific Bristol crash in which Waltrip tapped Pressley in the right rear corner sending Waltrip into a gate disintegrating the car on impact.

Winston Cup

In 1995, Pressley took over for the retired Harry Gant in the No. 33 car owned by Leo Jackson Motorsports in Cup. He posted one top-ten finish and was runner-up to Ricky Craven for Rookie of the Year. The following year, he put together two top-five finishes. Unfortunately, Jackson was retiring and sold his operation to crew chief Andy Petree. After Pressley ran just one race for his new owner, he was released, but able to hook onto a ride with Diamond Ridge Motorsports. Pressley ran just ten races for Diamond Ridge in 1997, including the Daytona 500, in which his car flipped on its nose acrobatically in the first few laps.

Pressley posted a season-best finish of fourteenth, when he was suddenly fired from the ride. While he waited for a Cup ride to appear, Pressley returned to the Busch ranks, running the No. 47 Chevrolet for ST Motorsports, and finished out the year with three top tens. Over in Cup, he joined the No. 77 Jasper Motorsports team, which became one of the more popular tandems in the Cup circuit among fans.

Following his abbreviated Cup run in 1997, Pressley returned full-time in 1998 with the Jasper team, where he posted a then career-best third-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway. Despite being replaced temporarily by Hut Stricklin due to injuries, Pressley finished 32nd in points that year. 1999 was a struggle however, as Pressley and company failed to qualify six times that season, and often had trouble finishing races. Following the addition of Ryan Pemberton in 2000, Pressley was able to increase his position in points to 25th. In 2001, he had five top-tens, nearly won the inaugural Tropicana 400 before finishing in second, and finished 25th in points handing the driving duties to the car for the road course events to Boris Said. Robert Pressley, although competitive in some races, struggled with consistency, and would part ways with Jasper at the conclusion of the 2001 season.

In 2002, Pressley had a one race deal with Melling Racing for the Daytona 500 and locked himself in by qualifying speed on Pole Day, Qualifying fifth overall with the same car they had qualified third or better on the 2001 restrictor plate tracks. After receiving sponsorship from Brand Source, he had an engine problem at the end of the race. When he blew up, his car was nearly destroyed on pit road as an accident happened on the tri-oval and Michael Waltrip's car came across onto pit road, also nearly hitting the pace car as well.

Recent years At the end of 2001, Pressley was released from Jasper, and he tackled a new venture, the Craftsman Truck Series. He signed with Bobby Hamilton Racing and won his Truck Series debut at Daytona International Speedway. He also ran the season opening Daytona 500 in Cup for what was the last race for Melling Racing, finishing 22nd. In 2003, Pressley moved to HT Motorsports in the Trucks, finishing twelfth in points. He returned to the Busch Series to drive the No. 47 again for ST Motorsports, finishing in the top-ten twice, before moving back to the trucks with HT in 2005, finishing twentieth in the standings.

Pressley's son Coleman won the 2010 UARA-Stars championship and raced sporadically in NASCAR. He currently serves as Joey Logano's spotter. His nephew Caleb Pressley is a blogger and podcaster for Barstool Sports.

Pressley served as promoter at the Kingsport Speedway in Kingsport, Tennessee from 2011-2014, moving the track to NASCAR Whelen All-American Series-sanctioned status beginning with his first season. Pressley also owns a restaurant in the Asheville, North Carolina area called Celebrity's Hot Dogs.

In 2016, Pressley was elected as a county commissioner in Buncombe County, North Carolina, which he held until 2022.

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 35 36 Pts Ref 1994 Leo Jackson Motorsports 54 Chevy DAY40 CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHADNQ POC TAL INDDNQ GLN MCHDNQ BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT31 CAR PHO ATL35 57th 171 1995 33 DAY26 CAR42 RCH35 ATL31 DAR30 BRI10 NWS18 MAR17 TAL18 SON30 CLT24 DOV19 POC37 MCH17 DAY11 NHA13 POC34 TAL27 IND28 GLN34 MCH18 BRI24 DAR17 RCH30 DOV14 MAR34 NWS33 CLT42 CAR29 PHO19 ATL41 29th 2663 1996 DAY30 CAR26 RCH16 ATL27 DAR36 BRI17 NWS4 MAR34 TAL7 SON34 CLT33 DOV POC33 MCH23 DAY17 NHA5 POC25 TAL31 IND30 GLN30 MCH41 BRI33 DAR27 RCH26 DOV32 MAR32 NWS33 32nd 2485 Andy Petree Racing CLT32 Diamond Ridge Motorsports 29 Chevy CAR37 PHO36 ATL33 1997 DAY39 CAR37 RCH21 ATLDNQ DAR39 TEXDNQ BRI14 MAR23 SONDNQ TAL29 CLT DOV POC MCH CAL DAY NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH 43rd 984 Jasper Motorsports 77 Ford NHA43 DOV39 MAR38 CLT36 TAL27 CAR13 PHO38 ATLDNQ 1998 DAY32 CAR40 LVS23 ATL27 DAR20 BRI28 TEX3 MAR23 TAL31 CAL17 CLT16 DOV39 RCH41 MCH32 POC16 SON30 NHA34 POC32 IND29 GLN29 MCH24 BRI40 NHA12 DAR30 RCH43 DOV MAR CLT41 TAL26 DAYDNQ PHO17 CAR38 ATL28 32nd 2388 1999 DAY19 CAR14 LVSDNQ ATLDNQ DAR15 TEX20 BRI40 MAR23 TAL22 CAL39 RCH27 CLT35 DOV40 MCH42 POC35 SON40 DAYDNQ NHADNQ POC23 IND17 GLNDNQ MCH42 BRI43 DAR25 RCH39 NHA30 DOV23 MAR35 CLT24 TALDNQ CAR29 PHO38 HOM37 ATL27 39th 2050 2000 DAY20 CAR43 LVS21 ATL33 DAR18 BRI17 TEX26 MAR15 TAL23 CAL21 RCH35 CLT26 DOV26 MCH5 POC11 SON37 DAY17 NHA38 POC14 IND27 GLN26 MCH32 BRI37 DAR36 RCH37 NHA18 DOV14 MAR33 CLT35 TAL25 CAR12 PHO31 HOM16 ATL13 25th 3055 2001 DAY14 CAR12 LVS16 ATL36 DAR15 BRI28 TEX43 MAR40 TAL24 CAL10 RCH32 CLT38 DOV22 MCH21 POC14 SON DAY23 CHI2 NHA19 POC9 IND35 GLN MCH14 BRI28 DAR38 RCH15 DOV37 KAN7 CLT25 MAR43 TAL27 PHO42 CAR13 HOM40 ATL21 NHA7 25th 3156 2002 Melling Racing 92 Dodge DAY22 CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR TAL CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV KAN TALDNQ CLT MAR ATL CAR PHO HOM 67th 97 2003 Morgan–McClure Motorsports 4 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX TAL MAR CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC INDDNQ GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH NHA DOV TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO CAR HOM NA -

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1994 Leo Jackson Motorsports Chevrolet 19 40 1995 31 26 1996 25 30 1997 Diamond Ridge Motorsports Chevrolet 19 39 1998 Jasper Motorsports Ford 30 32 1999 15 19 2000 32 20 2001 39 14 2002 Melling Racing Dodge 31 22

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 33 34 35 Pts Ref 1984 52 Olds DAY RCH CAR HCY MAR DAR ROU NSV LGY MLW DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU HCY IRP LGY SBO BRI DAR RCH NWS CLT26 HCY CAR MAR 108th 0 1989 Pressley Racing 59 Olds DAY CAR MAR HCY15 DAR BRI19 NZH SBO18 LAN12 NSV12 CLT DOV ROU9 LVL15 VOL13 MYB21 SBO26 HCY14 DUB10 IRP30 ROU1* BRI20 DAR RCH14 DOV MAR12 CLT15 CAR MAR13 19th 2129 1990 Alliance Motorsports DAY15 RCH29 CAR34 MAR26 HCY4 DAR21 BRI15 LAN10 SBO9 NZH11 HCY4 CLT23 DOV11 ROU19 VOL13 MYB16 OXF33 NHA29 SBO16 DUB8 IRP5 ROU3 BRI18 DAR18 RCH7 DOV23 MAR2* CLT24 NHA30 CAR31 MAR29 12th 3504 1991 DAY20 RCH28 CAR9 MAR25 VOL14 HCY6 DAR25 BRI30 LAN4 SBO20 NZH10 CLT12 DOV15 ROU1* HCY6* MYB2 GLN13 OXF40 NHA7 SBO22 DUB3 IRP13 ROU2 BRI7 DAR19 RCH2 DOV2 CLT18 NHA5 CAR7 MAR29 3rd 3929 1992 DAY5 CAR18 RCH36 ATL22 MAR4 DAR1 BRI8 HCY13 LAN4 DUB23 NZH8 CLT9 DOV1* ROU1* MYB25 GLN17 VOL3 NHA2 TAL36 IRP2* ROU6 MCH30 NHA13 BRI9 DAR22 RCH1 DOV1* CLT23 MAR29 CAR27 HCY15 5th 3988 1993 DAY31 CAR2 RCH5 DAR1* BRI10 HCY25 ROU29 MAR22 NZH1 CLT5 DOV7 MYB4 GLN26 MLW22 TAL7 IRP18 MCH2 NHA1 BRI21 DAR28 RCH26 DOV12 ROU20 CLT43 8th 3389 Precision Products Racing 0 Olds MAR23 HCY26 Chevy CAR9 ATL7 1994 J&J Racing 99 Chevy DAY9 CAR5 RCH13 ATL31 MAR14 DAR15 HCY10 BRI19 ROU13 NHA24 NZH35 CLT6 DOV7 MYB4 GLN6 MLW34 SBO6 TAL29 HCY20 IRP15 MCH28 12th 3043 Laughlin Racing Products 35 Chevy BRI26 DAR36 RCH15 DOV40 CLT14 Ferree Racing 46 Chevy MAR36 Petty Enterprises 43 Pontiac CAR10 1996 7 DAY CAR RCH ATLDNQ NSV DAR BRI HCY NZH CLT DOV SBO MYB GLN MLW NHA TAL IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM NA - 1997 Team Amick 35 Pontiac DAY CAR RCH ATL LVS DAR HCY TEX BRI NSV TAL NHA NZH CLTDNQ DOV 32nd 1465 ST Motorsports 47 Chevy SBO31 GLN38 MLW21 MYB32 GTY37 IRP18 MCH35 BRI3 DAR14 RCH15 DOV27 CLT16 CAL5 CAR10 HOM31 1998 59 DAY34 CAR17 LVS38 NSV31* DAR9 BRIDNQ TEXDNQ HCY6 TALDNQ NHA9 NZH CLT26 DOV6 RCH10 PPR GLN MLW MYB CAL14 SBO IRP MCH19 BRI19 DAR9 RCH37 DOV CLT GTY CAR15 ATL31 HOM37 31st 1870 1999 Xpress Motorsports 61 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR TEX NSV BRI TAL CAL NHA RCH NZH CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB PPR GTY IRP MCH BRI DAR18 RCH28 DOV17 CLTDNQ CAR MEM PHO HOM 77th 300 2004 ST Motorsports 47 Ford DAY17 CAR23 LVS24 DAR22 BRI22 TEX24 NSH11 TAL14 CAL27 GTY36 RCH20 NZH19 CLT20 DOV15 NSH15 KEN16 MLW14 DAY4 CHI35 NHA13 PPR19 IRP22 MCH28 BRI9 CAL25 RCH17 DOV22 KAN20 CLT16 MEM17 ATL13 PHO17 DAR13 HOM24 15th 3604 2005 46 DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL NSH BRI TEX PHO TAL DAR25 RCH CLTDNQ DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR GTY IRP16 GLN MCH BRI16 CAL RCH33 DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX30 PHO HOM 71st 455 2008 JTG Daugherty Racing 59 Ford DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO MXC TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLWQL† NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEMQL† TEX PHO HOM NA - † - Qualified for Marcos Ambrose

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 Pts Ref 2002 Bobby Hamilton Racing 18 Dodge DAY1* DAR2 MAR14 GTW31 PPR30 DOV2 TEX6 MEM12 MLW7 KAN7 KEN3 NHA9 MCH1* IRP5 NSH9 RCH15 TEX7 SBO24 LVS7 CAL7 PHO14 HOM4 7th 3097 2003 HT Motorsports 59 Dodge DAY3 DAR10 MMR11 MAR17 CLT31 DOV10 TEX26 MEM MLW KAN5 KEN8 GTW MCH14 IRP18 NSH15 BRI2 RCH2 NHA14 CAL11 LVS11 SBO10 TEX13 MAR27 PHO8 HOM26 12th 2773 2005 HT Motorsports 59 Dodge DAY15 CAL24 ATL20 MAR25 GTW8 MFD25 CLT22 DOV26 TEX31 MCH17 MLW14 KAN33 KEN17 MEM32 IRP7 NSH25 BRI17 RCH8 NHA14 LVS24 MAR31 ATL27 TEX26 PHO22 HOM24 20th 2493

Charlotte/Daytona Dash Series Charlotte/Daytona Dash Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Pts Ref 1988 Page Racing 54 Pontiac DAY ROU HCY MYB CLT ASH NSV SUM STH LAN AND MYB LAN HCY CLT N/A 0 1989 DAY FLO NRV HCY CON LAN SBO NSV SUM LAN 37th 180 75 AND BGS MYB HCY LAN

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 18 Pts Ref 1989 Collins Racing 24 Pontiac DAY ATL KIL TAL FRS POC KIL HAG POC TAL DEL FRS ISF TOL DSF SLM ATL40 120th - 1990 Alliance Training Centers DAYDNQ ATL KIL TAL FRS POC KIL TOL HAG POC TAL MCH ISF TOL DSF WIN DEL ATL NA -