Jim Vandiver
{{short description|Former NASCAR driver}}
{{Infobox NASCAR driver|
name = Jim Vandiver |
birth_date = December 13, 1939 |
death_date = {{death date and age|2015|6|18|1939|12|13}} |
birth_place = Huntersville, North Carolina, U.S. |
death_place = Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
death_cause = |
Best_Cup_Pos = 30th (1975)|
Cup_Wins = 0|
Cup_Top_Tens = 24|
Cup_Poles = 0|
First_Cup_Race = 1968 Hickory 250 (Hickory)|
First_Cup_Win = |
Last_Cup_Win = |
Last_Cup_Race = 1983 World 600 (Charlotte)|
awards = |
Years_In_Cup = 14|
Total_Cup_Races = 85|
}}
Jim Vandiver (December 13, 1939{{spaced ndash}}June 18, 2015) was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver who raced from 1968 to 1983.{{cite web | url = http://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_stats/drivertotal.php?drv_id=583 | title = 1976 Dixie 500 information | publisher = Driver Averages | date = | accessdate = 2011-02-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111005053103/http://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_stats/drivertotal.php?drv_id=583 | archive-date = 2011-10-05 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | url = http://www.racing-reference.info/driver?id=vandiji01 | title = 1976 Dixie 500 information (second reference) | publisher = Racing Reference | date = | accessdate = 2011-02-03}} As an independent driver, he had limited financial resources but enjoyed a level of success that relatively few independent drivers had during the formative years of NASCAR.
Career
Vandiver competed in 85 races with five finishes in the top-five, 24 top-ten finishes, 117 laps led out of 16529, and a total mileage count of 24247.8 miles. Over his career, he had a total of $167,703 in winnings earned on the track (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|167703|1983|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation).
At the 1972 Daytona 500, Vandiver finished third to winner A. J. Foyt. Vandiver is also the only undefeated ARCA driver at Talladega Superspeedway with victories in 1970 and 1975.
Most of Vandiver's earlier racers were done in Dodge vehicles. In his later career, he drove Oldsmobile and Chevrolet racecars.
He later operated Choice Trucks, a used truck dealership in Huntersville, North Carolina.{{cn|date=May 2020}}
He was involved in the controversial 1969 Talladega 500, where he came in second place to Richard Brickhouse in a questionable finish. Both Vandiver and car owner Ray Fox Sr. were adamant that Brickhouse was a lap down because he had stopped to pit under the green flag (Vandiver only pitted under the Caution). Even after three hours of arguing the decision, Brickhouse was still made the winner of the event. Conspiracy theorists cite the difference in the Dodges as the determining factor since Vandiver was in an older Charger 500 and Brickhouse was in the brand new, winged Dodge Daytona.{{cite news|last=Higgins|first=Tom|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/thatsracin/article24939268.html|title=Jim Vandiver, first Talladega 500 runner-up, dies in Charlotte|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|date=July 18, 2015|accessdate=August 6, 2019}}
Vandiver is known for an unusual exit to the 1973 Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. He was due to be arrested for not showing up to divorce court for a child custody hearing, and had to figure out a way to avoid going to jail. His engine began running worse and worse so he waved goodbye to his pit crew and intentionally spun out his Dodge. To avoid the authorities seizing him on the track in front of the spectators, he ran across the track to escape and hitchhiked a ride to Charlotte, North Carolina in order to get home.{{cite web | url = http://bleacherreport.com/articles/189007-a-sit-down-with-jim-vandiver-a-true-pioneer-of-nascar | title = A Sit Down With Jim Vandiver; A True Pioneer Of NASCAR | publisher = Bleacher Report | date = | accessdate = 2012-12-14}}
Personal life and death
Vandiver was divorced and had four children; Emory, Rhett, Nicole and Shannon. Emory is a former softball player, Rhett also drives race cars, Nicole and Shannon are practicing lawyers in Davidson, North Carolina.{{cite web | url = http://www.choicetrucks.net/staff.aspx | title = Meet the Staff of Choice Trucks | publisher = Choice Trucks | date = | accessdate = 2012-12-14}}
Vandiver's sister, Lillian, also raced - participating in the 1976 and 1977 Nascar DASH series. {{Cite web |title=Lillian Vandiver |date=11 November 2010 |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/lillian-vandiver-sister-of-nascar-cup-driver-jim-vandiver-news-photo/106763259}}
On June 15, 2015, Vandiver was admitted to a Charlotte hospital for chest pains. He died three days later at the age of 75.{{cite web|last=Bonkowski|first=Jerry|url=http://nascartalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/20/inaugural-talladega-runner-up-jim-vandiver-remembered/|title=Inaugural Talladega runner-up Jim Vandiver remembered|publisher=NBC Sports|date=June 20, 2015|accessdate=2015-06-20}}
Motorsports results
= NASCAR =
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
== Grand National Series ==
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
!colspan=69| NASCAR Grand National Series results |
Year
! Team ! No. ! Make ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20 ! 21 ! 22 ! 23 ! 24 ! 25 ! 26 ! 27 ! 28 ! 29 ! 30 ! 31 ! 32 ! 33 ! 34 ! 35 ! 36 ! 37 ! 38 ! 39 ! 40 ! 41 ! 42 ! 43 ! 44 ! 45 ! 46 ! 47 ! 48 ! 49 ! 50 ! 51 ! 52 ! 53 ! 54 ! {{Tooltip|NGNC|NASCAR Grand National classification}} ! Pts ! Ref |
---|
1968
! Tom Vandiver ! 1 ! Chevy | MGR | MGY | RSD | DAY | BRI | RCH | ATL | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| HCY | GPS | CLB | NWS | MAR | AUG | AWS | DAR | BLV | LGY | CLT | ASH | MGR | SMR | BIR | CAR | GPS | DAY | ISP | OXF | FDA | TRN | BRI | SMR | NSV | ATL | CLB | BGS | AWS | SBO | LGY | DAR | HCY | RCH | BLV | HBO | MAR | NWS | AUG | CLT | CAR | JFC | colspan=5| ! 124th ! 0 |
rowspan=2| 1969
! 3 ! Dodge | MGR | MGY | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | CAR | AUG | BRI | ATL | CLB | HCY | GPS | RCH | NWS | MAR | AWS | DAR | BLV | LGY | CLT | MGR | SMR | MCH | KPT | GPS | NCF | DAY | DOV | TPN | TRN | BLV | BRI | NSV | SMR | ATL | MCH | SBO | BGS | AWS | DAR | HCY | RCH | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TAL | CLB | colspan=2| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT | SVH | AUG | CAR | JFC | MGR | TWS ! rowspan=2| 96th ! rowspan=2| 24 |
Jim Lineberger
! 13 ! Chevy | colspan=45| | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAR | NWS | colspan=7| |
rowspan=4| 1970
! 3 ! Dodge | RSD | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAY | DAY | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | RCH | CAR | SVH | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL | BRI | colspan=45| ! rowspan=4| 46th ! rowspan=4| 519 |
Jim Vandiver
! 31 ! Dodge | colspan=9| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL | NWS | CLB | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR | BLV | LGY | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLT | SMR | MAR | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MCH | RSD | HCY | KPT | GPS | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | AST | TPN | TRN | BRI | SMR | NSV | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ATL | CLB | ONA | MCH | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TAL | BGS | SBO | DAR | HCY | RCH | DOV | NCF | NWS | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT | MAR | | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CAR | colspan=8| |
Bub Strickler
! 58 ! Chevy | colspan=45| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MGR | colspan=9| |
Cecil Gordon
! 97 ! Chevy | colspan=47| | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LGY | colspan=6| |
rowspan=2| 1971
! O. L. Nixon ! 31 ! Dodge | RSD | DAY | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAY | ONT | RCH | CAR | HCY | BRI | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ATL | CLB | GPS | SMR | NWS | MAR | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAR | SBO | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TAL | ASH | KPT | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT | DOV | MCH | RSD | HOU | GPS | DAY | BRI | AST | ISP | TRN | NSV | ATL | BGS | ONA | MCH | TAL | CLB | HCY | DAR | MAR | colspan=13| ! rowspan=2| 48th ! rowspan=2| 553 |
Faustina Racing
! 5 ! Plymouth | colspan=41| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT | DOV | CAR | MGR | RCH | NWS | TWS | colspan=7| |
==Winston Cup Series==
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%" |
colspan=40| NASCAR Winston Cup Series results |
---|
Year
! Team ! No. ! Make ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20 ! 21 ! 22 ! 23 ! 24 ! 25 ! 26 ! 27 ! 28 ! 29 ! 30 ! 31 ! {{Tooltip|NWCC|NASCAR Winston Cup classification}} ! Pts ! Ref |
rowspan=3| 1972
! O. L. Nixon ! 31 ! Dodge | RSD | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAY | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RCH | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ONT | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| CAR | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRI | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NWS | | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT | colspan=9| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MCH | NSV | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR | TWS ! rowspan=3| 31st ! rowspan=3| 2514.35 |
Bill Strong
! 51 ! Chevy | colspan=9| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAR | colspan=21| |
A. J. Cox
! 81 ! Dodge | colspan=12| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DOV | MCH | RSD | TWS | DAY | BRI | TRN | ATL | TAL | colspan=10| |
rowspan=2| 1973
! O. L. Nixon ! 31 ! Dodge | RSD | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | RCH | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CAR | BRI | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TAL | NSV | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLT | DOV | TWS | RSD | MCH | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | BRI | ATL | colspan=2| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CAR | colspan=3| ! rowspan=2| 31st ! rowspan=2| 2508.85 |
J. Marvin Millis
! 4 ! Dodge | colspan=19| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL | NSV | colspan=11| |
1974
! O. L. Nixon ! 31 ! Dodge | RSD | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL | DAR | NWS | MAR | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL | NSV | DOV | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLT | RSD | MCH | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | BRI | NSV | ATL | POC | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL | MCH | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT | CAR | ONT | ! 40th ! 71.4 |
rowspan=2| 1975
! John Keselowski ! 99 ! Dodge | RSD | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | RCH | CAR | BRI | colspan=26| ! rowspan=2| 30th ! rowspan=2| 1228 |
rowspan=3| Elder-Ranier
! rowspan=3| 31 ! rowspan=3| Dodge | colspan=5| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL | NSV | DOV | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| CLT | RSD | MCH | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY | NSV | POC | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL | MCH | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAR | DOV | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| NWS | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MAR | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RCH | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CAR | BRI | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL | ONT | |
1976
| RSD | DAY | CAR | RCH | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT | ! 87th ! 124 |
1977
| RSD | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | NWS | DAR | BRI | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT | ! 90th ! 103 |
1978
! rowspan=2| O. L. Nixon ! rowspan=2| 89 ! Chevy | RSD | style="background:#FFCFCF;"| DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT | NSV | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT | ! 81st ! 131 |
rowspan=2| 1979
! Olds | RSD | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | NWS | BRI | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | colspan=4| | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT | NWS | CAR | ATL | ONT ! rowspan=2| 62nd ! rowspan=2| 225 |
Elder-Ranier
! 9 ! Chevy | colspan=22| | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | colspan=5| |
1980
! O. L. Nixon ! 89 ! Olds | RSD | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL | NSV | DOV | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLT | TWS | RSD | MCH | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT ! 52nd ! 328 |
1983
! 24 ! Chrysler | DAY | RCH | CAR | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | BRI | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | ! 88th ! 88 |
===Daytona 500===
class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" |
Year
! Team ! Manufacturer ! Start ! Finish |
---|
1970
| Ray Fox | Dodge |align=center| 17 |align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"| 38 |
1971
| rowspan=4| O. L. Nixon | rowspan=4| Dodge |align=center| 32 |align=center style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 6 |
1972
|align=center| 8 |align=center style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 3 |
1973
|align=center| 18 |align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"| 28 |
1974
|align=center| 6 |align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"| 27 |
1975
| John Keselowski | Dodge |align=center| 34 |align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"| 35 |
1977
| Dodge |align=center| 19 |align=center style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 20 |
1978
| rowspan=3| O. L. Nixon |align=center| 24 |align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"| 38 |
1979
| rowspan=2| Oldsmobile |align=center| 39 |align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"| 41 |
1980
|align=center| 40 |align=center style="background:#EFCFFF;"| 37 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Racing-Reference driver|Jim_Vandiver}}
{{Keselowski Motorsports}}
{{Gordon Racing}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vandiver, Jim}}
Category:ARCA Menards Series drivers