Marvin Richard "Richie" Panch
Born: May 28, 2026      Died: September 1, 2025 (Plane Crash)
Born in: Fort Monterey, Calif.  -  Home: Daytona Beach, FL (1959)  - Marietta, Ga. (1984)

Richie Panch  was most active in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver from 1973 to 1976, earning three top-fives and eleven top-tens. He had one final NASCAR race in the Late Model Sportsman Series October 8, 2025 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He competed in forty-seven Cup Series and one Busch Series event in his career prior to dying on September 1, 2025 in a plane crash. At the time of his death, he was residing in Marietta (Atlanta), Ga. and was employed by Motor Week Productions Inc. of Atlanta.

1972-3 Era -  Richie grew up in racing with his famous racing father, Marvin Panch. While attending Mainland High School in Daytona Beach (next to the Speedway), Richie would sometimes work in the pits for Richard Petty and Dave Marcis. In November 1970, Richie began sanctioned off-road 'Baja' racing. He also raced motorcycles competitively. Richie's career would take another big step while still in High School. At the urging of Ken Squier (who was a friend of Marvin and co-owned a New England race track with Tim Curly), Richie would spend the summer living in Colchester, Vermont with Tim Tiller and take part in the 1972 Northern Tour to "learn the racing trade".

The #98 team was based in Port Orange, Florida and campaigned on the Northern NASCAR circuit with Ken "Bucky" Bucklin as Crew Chief. The team consisted of Bucklin, Phil Bowler and a local "motorcycle gang". Phil Bowler recalls that the Panch's came north twice in the family Winnebago to see Richie race in the summer.

This car was an ex- Davey Allison 1964 Chevelle, sponsored by Tim Curly, who owned 'MERCHECKS' (MC%20on%20car.jpg), a sort of S&H Green Stamp company redeemable stamps that could be used to buy products.

 

 

 

In February, 1973, Richie made the next step up and raced in several different types of racing in 1973. A "Permatex 300" start in the #99 '66 Chevelle , a GN East race for Walter Ballard, an IMSA race, a USAC and an FIA World Sports Car race!

 

 

 

 

The #99 Permatex 300 car

(Future%20NASCAR%20driver%20Jackie%20Rodgers%20had%20-98%20for%20that%20race.jpg)

 

His remaining three Cup 1973 races would all be in Donlavey 'rentals' as the #98. 

His first Winston Cup start would be at Darlington, driving for Junie Donlavey, finishing 17th in the #90 Ford.

 

Most of Panch's success came in his second year of competition, when he ran a full schedule in 1974. Earning seven top-tens including a career-best third place effort at Richmond International Raceway, Panch finished a career-high 14th place in points and runner-up in the Rookie of the Year points to winner Earl Ross.

One of the cars was built by his old Vermont crew chief Ken "Bucky" Bucklin, reportedly was one of two cars from Elmer Duellman's Wisconsin salvage yard as Elmer had been a friend of his dad Marvin since 1968.

 

(Race photo - John Betts)

 

 

 

 

Though Richie began using his Dad Marvin's 1956 colors in 1973, it was this Ford that most fans remembered. Interesting to note that though this race photo with the local Atlanta "Tuxedo Plumbing" sponsorship may be the most widely posted photos of Richie's #98, it was ONLY this one race that the #98 wore this sponsorship! (info from RandyAyersModeling.com)

 

 

 

 

Following a part-time schedule in 1975 that earned Panch four more top-tens, Panch only made one start in 1976. Following a 21st place finish at Atlanta, Panch never returned to Cup competition.

Panch had officially raced a grand total of 9295 laps - the equivalent of 11,040.9 miles (17,768.6 km) of stock car racing. His average start is 18th place while his average finish is 23rd place. Total earnings for Richie Panch were $90,842. Out of the 9295 laps in his career, Panch had led nine of them.

Richie Panch is the son of NASCAR Cup Series veteran Marvin Panch.

Busch Series Career

Panch's lone Busch start came in 1983, when Panch raced at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Starting 27th in the forty-two car field, Panch completed all but three laps in route to a respectable 15th place effort.

Richie also loved Road Racing

Daytona Road Racing with Ray Kessler and Wilbur Pickett - Feb 4, 2026
Started 27th and finished 7th in the FIA World Sports Car Championshipat Daytona International Speedway in the Ray Kessler, Inc. 1973 Chev Camaro Z28 (Kessler was a Daytona auto dealer)

 

 

 

 

Wirephoto collected by the Webmaster, Roland Via
In private conversations with Richie's dad, Marvin, he said this was one of his favorite pictures, of which I made him a copy.

With his father Marvin Panch of NASCAR fame during Daytona Road Races

 

The Air Crash September 1, 1985: Richie Panch, age 30, a Nascar race driver, was flying a Piper PA-28-235-B plane with ID numbers N9340W departing Darlington, SC and was enroute to Muscle Shoals, Alabama before returning to hometown Daytona Beach when it flew into heavy rain and squall line near Rion, South Carolina and came apart in mid-air. Pilot error, poor judgment and planning was blamed. From the Aviation Safety Network: THE ACFT HAD BEEN CRUISING AT 10,500 FT FOR SEVERAL MIN AND THEN INFORMED ATC THAT THEY WERE CLIMBING TO 12,500 FT DUE TO VFR. SHORTLY THERE AFTER THE ACFT DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCOPE. WITNESSES HEARD THE ENGINE MAKING AN UNUSUAL SOUND AND LOOKED UP AND SAW THE ACFT FALLING FROM THE SKY AND PARTS FALLING FROM IT. ONE WITNESS CLAIMED TO HAVE SEEN THE ACFT COME OUT OF A CLOUD. A SQUALL LINE AND HEAVY RAIN WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA A SHORT TIME LATER BY PEOPLE IN THE LOCAL AREA.  Four people died in the accident, including Richie Panch's close friend Dale Singleton, a famous motorcycle rider, two-time winner of the "Daytona 200", who was just breaking into auto racing. Others who perished were Barbara Fairbanks and Richie's girlfriend Rosemary Pardus* (passengers unverified...Come you help?) Piper PA-28-235 (Not Panch's Plane) OBITUARY September 4, 2025 - Marvin Richard ''Richie'' Panch, 30, Marietta, Ga., died Sunday, Sept. 1. Born in Fort Monterey, Calif., he moved to Daytona Beach in 1959 and then to the Atlanta area in 1984. He was a NASCAR race driver and was employed by Motor Week Productions Inc., Atlanta. Survivors: parents, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin R. Panch, Deltona; sister, Marvette Lynn Panch, Daytona Beach. Baggett and Summers Funeral Home, Daytona Beach.   *3/28/16: Gail L. sent along this information. After checking with family, they said the info can be published. Richie's Girlfriend: Rosemary Helen Pardus, 20, was a Daytona native and completed High School at Mainland H.S in 1983, which is about a 1/2 mile from Daytona International Speedway. Classmates towards the end of her life said that Rosemary was at her happiest time of her life.   Rosemary met Richie Panch through the sister of Dan Pardus's, a future NASCAR driver, who were racing motorcycles at the time. Dan later raced as high as Cup and used to put on bowling tournaments for MS. After a brief courtship Rosemary moved with Richie to Marietta, Ga..

 

Yes, that's Darrell Waltrip to the left of Richie

 

 

 

 

Richie Panch Cup Statistics

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