Nelson Stacy
Born: December 28, 1921      Died: May 14, 1986
Home: Cincinnati, OH

Nelson Stacy, born December 28, 1921 is a former NASCAR driver from Cincinnati, OH. He competed in forty-five Nextel Cup Series events in his career prior to his death on May 14, 1986.

Although Stacy never ran for a championship, he made his presence be known often. After making one start in 1952, Stacy returned to NASCAR action in 1961, when he recorded eight top-ten finishes. That including winning his first career race in the Southern 500 at Darlington Speedway.

The very next year (1962) he was even better. He earned an astounding three races in fifteen starts, recording victories at Darlington, Charlotte and Martinsville. In addition, Stacy had four more top-ten finishes.

However, following the years of 1961 and 1962, Stacy's career began to die out. He finished with 9 top-tens in twelve starts and a career-best 14th place in points in the 1963 season but failed to crack the winner's circle.

He would compete in one race apiece in 1964 and 1965, retiring after a 24th place finish in the 1965 Firecracker 400.

In 1952-53 Nelson Stacy was known

as the NASH Ambassador

 

 

 

 

Fantastic Model

Diecast 1/64th Scale

Twenty Bucks For An Autograph?   By Steve Samples In an era when major league baseball players, NFL greats, and NBA superstars charge upwards of $20 an autograph at impersonal signing sessions with long lines, it's refreshing to see NASCAR's good 'ol boys still signing for free, talking to kids, and generally making themselves available to the public. Sure, there are times when drivers have to leave to catch flights and excuse themselves from such activities, but most NASCAR drivers are genuinely nice guys who will accommodate race fans when they can. The nice guy tradition isn't new to the sport- it started a long time ago. Before the 1962 World 600 a boy scout group in Charlotte contacted the speedway and requested the presence of a NASCAR driver at their weekly meeting. The boys in the troop had made their preference known. They wanted Fireball Roberts, and if they couldn't get Fireball they would take David Pearson. The "Pontiac Pack" as it was known in those days, made up of Roberts, Pearson, Joe Weatherly, Jack Smith, Junior Johnson and others, was the dominant force in racing. On the big tracks, they frequently qualified three to six miles an hour faster than the Fords of Fred Lorenzen and Nelson Stacy, the Plymouth of Richard Petty, and the Chevrolet of Ned Jarrett. Kids identify with headline makers and clearly the Pontiacs were making headlines. Unfortunately for the local boy scout troop, Roberts and Pearson had commitments. Speedway executives began calling car owners everywhere, trying on short notice to recruit a "star" to appear at the meeting. When just about everyone had said, "Sorry our guy is booked", the phone rang. It was the office of Holman-Moody. They had a driver named Nelson Stacy. Otherwise known as "bull necked Nelson Stacy," or "Grandpa Nelson Stacy," as Nelson did not begin his NASCAR career until his mid-forties, and was indeed a grandfather. Stacy was a first rate Grand National driver (as Winston Cup was known in those days). He had won the Southern 500 in Darlington the year before and could handle a race car with the best of them. Unfortunately Nelson hadn't made any headlines that season and the scouts were less than excited when they found out someone called "grandpa" was going to be their speaker. None the less they all showed up hoping to meet a real NASCAR driver and were loaded with questions for the aging chauffeur. When Nelson arrived he introduced himself to the kids who began to shower him with racing questions. "Have you ever passed Fireball Roberts?" one youngster asked. "Once I think, but he was in the pits," Stacy replied. "Well what about this week, you think you could pass Fireball just one time, for us"? the inquisitive scout asked. "I don't know," Stacy replied, "he's awfully fast, but I'll sure try." The session ended with autographs for everyone and a commitment from Nelson to run as hard as he could on Sunday. On race day the scouts sat together watching their new found hero with hopes he would finish the race, and maybe even pass the famous Fireball Roberts, even if the pass took place when Roberts was in the pits. The race began with the Pontiac pack leading the way, but soon the powerful Pontiacs began to fall out. The Fords driven by Stacy and Fred Lorenzen moved closer to the front. As the race passed the halfway point it looked as if there might be an upset but several makes of car were in contention. Educated fans were simply waiting for the Pontiacs to take over. Despite their edge in horsepower it was not a day for Pontiac. Stacy rocketed to the lead as if he were shot out of a cannon and Lorenzen moved to third. As the laps ran down the scouts began to look at each other. Was it possible an old man, a guy over 40, who they had never heard of, could beat not only Fireball but the entire field? Indeed it was. Nelson Stacy won the World 600 that year, one of four victories in a short career, and a group of boy scouts had finally met someone who could pass Fireball Roberts. The celebration began in victory circle but ended in the stands with a screaming group of boy scouts that had just witnessed what they thought was a genuine miracle! I met Nelson Stacy once following that day. The occasion was after a race at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Searching diligently for my boyhood hero Fred Lorenzen, I came upon Stacy standing next to his car in the pits. The year was 1963. It took four and a half hours to run 500 laps at the little half mile oval in those days, and Stacy looked exhausted. Realizing he was Lorenzen's teammate, I approached him for an autograph. "Mr. Stacy would you sign this for me?" I asked. He looked back and smiled. "Would you give me a dollar for my autograph?" he said in a serious voice. "Yes sir," I replied, reaching into my pocket and pulling out a crumpled dollar bill. As I reached to hand it to him, he chortled. "No, you keep your dollar. I'll be glad to sign your program," he said, laughing so hard I thought he would fall over. Sadly, Nelson Stacy passed away several years ago. He spent his final years in Florida where he owned a car dealership, complete with a big yellow sign with a red 29, just like his Holman-Moody Ford. If he was around today I would have a hard time envisioning Nelson Stacy charging $20 for an autograph. But maybe, just maybe, at those autograph tables, he could bring himself to charge a dollar.

1962 Darlington Rebel 300 Winner - Convertible Class

DARLINGTON TALES  -  by Tom Higgins Darlington is where the fabulous Fireball put on one of the greatest demonstrations of his driving skill in the Southern 500 of 1958, the first major superspeedway race I covered.  Blown tires led to repeated crashes in what was then the first turn, right under the rickety old press box.  Finally, the steel railing was ripped apart beyond immediate repair when Jack Smith smashed through it.  During a red flag delay, NASCAR officials told the drivers to "go low and slow" through the first turn.  Most did, but Fireball, driving a beautiful white 1957 Chevrolet bearing the No. 22, maintained the same smooth, high line that he'd run earlier and wound up winning by five laps over second place Buck Baker. Darlington is where a former Army tank driver named Nelson Stacy scored the biggest victory of his career in the Southern 500 of 1961.  Darlington is where drivers scraped the railing between the third and fourth turns--intentionally!--in order to get through those exceedingly tough corners faster.  This of course peeled the paint off the right sides of their cars, leading to the forever famous monicker, "The Darlington Stripe."

Holman Moody had the best drivers in the world; men like: Fred Lorenzen, Mark Donohue, Bobby Allison, Ronnie Bucknum, Parnelli Jones, Ned Jarrett, Walt Hansgen, Peter Revson, David Pearson, Nelson Stacy, Al Unser, Joe Weatherly, Cale Yarborough, Dan Gurney, A. J. Foyt, Bo Ljungfeldt, Mario Andretti, Jim Clark, Junior Johnson, Dick Hutcherson, Augie Pabst, Richard Petty, Fireball Roberts, Curtis Turner, & Bobby Unser.

Stacy Facts: 1960-  Nelson Stacy of Cincinnati, Ohio drove his 1960 Ford to victory in the MARC-sanctioned “Illini 250” stock car race on 8/14/60.   Stacy started on the pole and went on to win the event on the 3.27-mile road course May 27, 1962: World 600 - Nelson Stacy, driving a Ford, overtakes David Pearson with eight laps to go and scores a big victory in the third annual World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Pearson is headed for his second straight 600 win when the engine in his Pontiac blows in the final laps.

Star Power A multitude of stars ran ARCA during the John Marcum years, many having multi-year title accomplishments. Five of those stars won three straight titles—Iggy Katona, Nelson Stacy, Jack Bowsher, Ron Hutcherson, and Dave Dayton. Katona also had two consecutive titles, a feat matched by Benny Parsons, Ramo Stott, Marvin Smith, Bobby Dotter and Lee Raymond. In fact, between 1953 and 1986 there were only 15 champions. During the ’90s, Tim Steele would accomplish the double, while Frank Kimmel did it the past two seasons. 1953 Jim Romine 1954 Buckie Sager 1955 Iggy Katona 1956 Iggy Katona 1957 Iggy Katona 1958 Nelson Stacy 1959 Nelson Stacy 1960 Nelson Stacy

ARCA STATS 1956 - 1957 1956 has a bit of uncertainty. The number of races for the season has been listed in various places as 45, 46, and over 50. Here are the 46 races and winners I've been able to pinpoint. April 15, 1956 Salem Speedway Jack Harrison April 22, 1956 Dayton Speedway Jack Harrison May 5, 1956 Columbus State Fairgrounds Pat Kirkwood May 12, 1956 Anderson Speedway Pat Kirkwood May 13, 1956 Fort Wayne Speedway Nelson Stacy May 19, 1956 West 16th Street Speedway Jack Harrison May 25, 1956 Cincinnati Race Bowl Nelson Stacy May 29, 1956 Toledo Raceway Park Iggy Katona May 29, 1956 Toledo Raceway Park Russ Hepler (Toledo races possibly on May 26 instead.) May 30, 1956 Canfield Speedway Darel Dieringer June 3, 1956 Dayton Speedway Iggy Katona June 10, 1956 Heidelberg Speedway Jim Romine June 16, 1956 West 16th Street Speedway Darel Dieringer June 17, 1956 Saginaw Fairgrounds Darel Dieringer June 23, 1956 Canfield Speedway Russ Hepler June 29, 1956 Cincinnati Race Bowl Darel Dieringer June 30, 1956 West 16th Street Speedway Jack Farris July 1, 1956 Salem Speedway Hershel White July 4, 1956 Toledo Raceway Park Jack Farris July 6, 1956 Sportsman Park Darel Dieringer July 14, 1956 Canfield Speedway Jack Farris July 20, 1956 Sportsman Park Nelson Stacy July 21, 1956 West 16th Street Speedway Jack Harrison July 22, 1956 Dayton Speedway Jack Farris July 27, 1956 Cincinnati Race Bowl Nelson Stacy July 28, 1956 Toledo Raceway Park Iggy Katona July 29, 1956 Sharon Speedway Iggy Katona August 4, 1956 Anderson Speedway Nelson Stacy August 10, 1956 Cincinnati Race Bowl Carl Kiser August 11, 1956 Canfield Speedway Jim Romine August 17, 1956 Sportsman Park Jack Farris August 18, 1956 West 16th Street Speedway Jack Farris August 25, 1956 Fort Wayne Speedway Russ Hepler August 26, 1956 Salem Speedway Jack Harrison August 31, 1956 Cincinnati Race Bowl Darel Dieringer September 1, 1956 Detroit MI (Motor City Speedway) Hershel White September 2, 1956 Toledo Raceway Park Kenny Wheeler September 3, 1956 Sportsman Park Iggy Katona September 9, 1956 Michigan State Fairgrounds Troy Ruttman September 16, 1956 Dayton Speedway Jack Farris September 22, 1956 Canfield Speedway Bob James September 23, 1956 Toledo Raceway Park Paul Wensink September 30, 1956 Cincinnati Race Bowl Nelson Stacy October 14, 1956 Salem Speedway Troy Ruttman October 28, 1956 Broadway Speedway Russ Hepler November 4, 1956 Lakewood Speedway Jack Farris The list contains 14 different winners, matching ARCA's official tally. For 1957, we are supposed to have a 30-race schedule. This appears to be the first year in which the season ended on September 30 instead of following the calendar year. I've come up with 38 races, not even counting the ones in October. Plus a bunch of extra confusion to follow. March 31, 1957 Lakewood Speedway Hershel White April 7, 1957 Broadway Speedway Roz Howard April 14, 1957 Dayton Speedway Jack Farris April 20, 1957 Canfield Speedway Jack Farris April 27, 1957 Canfield Speedway Iggy Katona April 28, 1957 Toledo Raceway Park Hershel White May 5, 1957 Jacksonville Speedway Gober Sosebee May 5, 1957 Salem Speedway Nelson Stacy May 12, 1957 Heidelberg Speedway Nelson Stacy May 18, 1957 Broadway Speedway Nelson Stacy May 19, 1957 Lakewood Speedway Les Snow May 25, 1957 West 16th Street Speedway Nelson Stacy May 26, 1957 Toledo Raceway Park Nelson Stacy Although ARCA's records list Bob James as the winner, local newspapers gave Stacy winning the race. I am looking for evidence of a protest that may have overturned the original result. May 30, 1957 Canfield Speedway Jack Farris June 2, 1957 Dayton Speedway Nelson Stacy June 9, 1957 New Bremen Speedway Jack Shanklin June 30, 1957 Winchester Speedway Don O'Dell July 4, 1957 Canfield Speedway Jack Farris July 4, 1957 Northville Downs Les Snow July 6, 1957 Toledo Raceway Park Jack Shanklin July 14, 1957 Michigan State Fairgrounds Jack Farris July 20, 1957 West 16th Street Speedway Nelson Stacy July 27, 1957 Canfield Speedway Bob James July 28, 1957 Dayton Speedway Bill Granger August 3, 1957 Fort Wayne Speedway Jack Farris August 4, 1957 Flat Rock Speedway Bobby Hunter August 10, 1957 Toledo Raceway Park Bob James August 11, 1957 Lorain County Fairgrounds Nelson Stacy August 17, 1957 Canfield Speedway Nelson Stacy August 18, 1957 Sharon Speedway Nelson Stacy August 30, 1957 Ohio State Fairgrounds Carl O’Harold August 31, 1957 DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Jerry Unser (USAC) September 1, 1957 DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Jimmy Bryan September 7, 1957 Michigan State Fairgrounds Bob James September 8, 1957 Michigan State Fairgrounds Johnnie Parsons September 15, 1957 Dayton Speedway Jack Shanklin September 21, 1957 Canfield Speedway Roy Gemberling September 28, 1957 Trenton Speedway Dick Linder September 29, 1957 Tampa Fairgrounds Roz Howard The races on August 3, 4, and 18 are probably not reflected in ARCA's driver career win totals, as they were on the list of races published in January for which ARCA was looking for winners. Also on that list, still with no winners found, are races on August 24 in Richmond KY and August 25 in Salem IN. On August 24, Jack Farris raced in three 100-lap features in Ottawa, Ontario, winning the first two and coming in 5th in the third race. It is not known, at this point, who the overall winner of the Monza-style race is, nor is it known for certain whether that was an official MARC championship race. The May 19 race in Atlanta was stopped for rain about 20 laps in, and scheduled to resume on May 26, which conflicts with the Toledo date. There were races scheduled on June 15 in Knoxville and June 16 in Atlanta, which could be the conclusions/makeups for the May 18 and 19 races.

A Model

Bill Stacy, RN: FASCAR Pro Truck Driver, Florida: Nelson, my uncle, was ARCA Champion for three years 1958, 1959, 1960, prior to entering Winston Cup racing when he was over 40. An "Old Man" for a rookie by today's standards. He still managed to win the World 600 and two races at Darlington and Martinsville before his health caused him to slow down after only 3 years in NASCAR. Originally from Kentucky, Nelson was a veteran of World War II driving a tank while serving under General Patton.    http://www.stacymotorsports.com/nelson_stacy.htm

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