Waddell Wilson

Waddell Wilson (born December 29, 1936) is an American former NASCAR Winston Cup Series crew chief and engine builder. He was the winning crew chief for the Daytona 500 in 1980, 1983, and 1984. He was crew chief or engine builder for Holman-Moody, Harry Ranier, and Hendrick Motorsports. After graduating from the Nashville Auto and Diesel College in Tennessee, he worked for Cummins Diesel in Miami. He became recognized after building the engine that Fireball Roberts used to win the 1963 Southern 500. Between 1983 and 1986, Yarborough/Wilson won nine races in only 60 starts, including four of sixteen in 1983. Rick Hendrick named Wilson to be the crew chief for his new third Hendrick Motorsports team in 1987. Wilson worked with driver Darrell Waltrip. The friends didn't mesh well together as teammates, earning only one win, and Wilson was named the team manager after one season. Unser finished 36th after crashing out. Between 1979 and 1993, Wilson was the crew chief for 22 NASCAR Winston Cup race wins.

Legacy Wilson received the Golden Wrench Award from the North Carolina Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame in 2006, the same year that Waltrip was inducted. Wilson was selected to be one of three retired crew chiefs to vote for the inaugural class for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He was featured on the April 9, 2003, episode of the Speed television channel's show Men Behind the Wrenches.

Personal life Wilson is married to Barbara Wilson. They have two sons and one daughter, and they all work in motorsports. Race Engine Preparation Waddell Wilson,