Rick Wilson

Rick Wilson
Born	January 31, 1953 (1953-01-31) (age 59) Bartow, Florida
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career
206 race(s) run over 14 year(s)
Best finish	17th - 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season
First race	1980 Firecracker 400 (Daytona)
Last race	1997 UAW-GM Quality 500 (Charlotte)
Wins Top tens Poles 23 1
NASCAR Nationwide Series career
46 race(s) run over 8 year(s)
Best finish	35th - 1995
First race	1985 Winn-Dixie 300
Last race	1997 All Pro 300
First win	1989 Budweiser 200 (Bristol)
Last win	1989 Budweiser 200 (Dover)
Wins Top tens Poles 2 11

Rick Wilson (born January 31, 1953 in Bartow, Florida) is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver.^[1] He began racing in 1980, and posted 23 top-ten finishes over his career. NASCAR's website says that he is probably best known for his "close, side-by-side second to Bill Elliott in Daytona's summer event in 1988."^[2] He was also known for taking over Richard Petty's car at Petty Enterprises after Petty retired in a car numbered 44.^[2]

Career

His most successful reign came from 1986 until 1989, driving the #4 car for Morgan-McClure Motorsports, when he was a consistent top-20 driver and won his only pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway. He later drove for RahMoc Enterprises, Stavola Brothers Racing and Petty Enterprises and was an Oldsmobile driver until the brand left NASCAR following the 1992 season. Wilson was the first driver chosen to replace Richard Petty after Petty's retirement—the car's number temporarily changed to #44 at that time. Rick also raced several years in the Busch Series driving for the Abingdon based Food Country #75 Oldsmobile operated by Henderson Motorsports. He won 2 races, Bristol, and Dover, both in 1989.^[3] The Bristol race he won was postponed due to snow, and ran on Monday. Wilson led 161 of the 200 laps ran on his way to victory. Wilson started 2nd in 1989 at Martinsville, leading 160 of the 200 laps before blowing a motor and finishing 21st. Wilson has not raced in NASCAR since 1998. Wilson will be competing in a replica of the 1989 Food Country Oldsmobile in the March 2010 NASCAR Legends race in Bristol. He will be competing against Harry Gant, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, among others.

Wilson won the 2010 NASCAR "Saturday Night Special" also known as The NASCAR Legends Race at Bristol Motor Speedway in a replica of the 1989 Food Country USA Oldsmobile he won with at Bristol in 1989.

Personal life

After Wilson retired from racing NASCAR, he became a crew member for Chip Ganassi and Travis Carter.^[2] He later became a farmer. As of 2007 he ran thousands of cattle on 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) and had about 200 acres (0.81 km²) of orange trees.^[2]

References