NASCAR Hall Of Fame Profile: Joe Weatherly

JOE WEATHERLY – Driver (b. 5/29/22 – d. 1/19/64)

Hometown: Norfolk, Va.

Competed: 1952-64
Starts: 229
Wins: 25
Poles: 18

Joe Weatherly won two championships (1962-63) and 25 races in NASCAR’s premier series. 

But that’s only part of his story, which is long on versatility. 

A decade earlier in 1952-53, he won 101 races in the NASCAR Modified division, capturing that championship in ’53. He even tried his hand in NASCAR’s short-lived Convertible Division from 1956-59. 

Weatherly was one of the first drivers who attracted fans to NASCAR as much for his personality as his racing ability, thus his nickname the “Clown Prince of Stock Car Racing.” 

When he won his first NASCAR premier series championship, in 1962, he drove for legendary owner Bud Moore. When he repeated as champion a year later, he drove for nine different teams. 

Weatherly was named one of the NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.  

This is the latest in a series of GodfatherMotorsports.com biographies profiling the 25 nominees for the 2012 class of the NASCAR Hall Of Fame. Each of the 25 candidates will be profiled in the coming weeks, in alphabetical order.