We lost another legend this week. Jack Ingram, NASCAR icon, passes away at 84. Jack was a five-time NASCAR champion and has won more than 300 races in his famed career. His most impressive span came in the early 70’s winning championships in 1972, ’73 and ’74. He continued to take it to the competition when the series underwent major changes and emerged as the Busch Series (now Xfinity) in 1982.
“There is no better way to describe Jack Ingram than ‘Iron Man.’ Jack was a fixture at short tracks across the Southeast most days of the week, racing anywhere and everywhere. He dominated the Late Model Sportsman division like few others. He set the bar for excellence in the Xfinity Series as its Most Popular Driver in 1982 and champion in 1985. Jack was an “old school racer” and his work on his own car helped propel him to Victory Lane hundreds of times. Of our current 58 NASCAR Hall of Fame members, he is one of only six that was elected based on his career and contributions in the grassroots level of our sport. On behalf of the France family and NASCAR, I offer my condolences to the friends and family of NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Ingram.” – Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO
Between 1964 and 1985, Ingram also made 19 starts in NASCAR’s premier series. His best finish was runner-up to Richard Petty in the 1967 Buddy Shuman 250 at Hickory. Ingram finished one lap down to the winner while it was one of a record 10 consecutive victories for Petty that year.
Oct. 5, 1991 was declared “Jack Ingram Day” by North Carolina Gov. Jim Martin in recognition of Ingram’s racing accomplishments.
We will always remember the “Iron Man.”
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