Paul Lewis (racing driver)
{{Short description|American racecar driver}}
{{Infobox NASCAR driver
|name = Paul Lewis
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1932|9|28}}
|death_date =
|birth_place = Johnson City, Tennessee, United States
|death_place =
|image =
|caption = Paul Lewis posing for a photo with fellow Johnson City veteran drivers Gary Potter and Brownie King
|death_cause =
|Best_Cup_Pos = 14th – 1965 NASCAR Grand National Series season
|Cup_Wins = 1
|Cup_Top_Tens = 45
|Cup_Poles = 1
|First_Cup_Race = 1960 Gwyn Staley 160 (North Wilkesboro Speedway)
|First_Cup_Win = 1966 Smoky Mountain 200 (Smoky Mountain Raceway)
|Last_Cup_Win =
|Last_Cup_Race = 1968 World 600 (Charlotte Motor Speedway)
|awards = 1960 NASCAR Rookie of the Year Runner-up
|Years_In_Cup = 9
|Total_Cup_Races = 114
}}
Paul Lewis (born September 28, 1932) is a retired NASCAR Grand National Series race car driver whose career spanned from 1960 to 1968[http://racing-reference.info/driver/Paul_Lewis Paul Lewis] racing information at Racing Reference while primarily driving a #2 Dodge vehicle owned by Bobby Allison.[http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/drivers/paul-lewis/2258 Paul Lewis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229204125/http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/drivers/paul-lewis/2258 |date=2017-12-29 }} racing information at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet
Career
=Driver=
Lewis made his debut into top-level professional stock car racing in 1960 at the age of 27. He originally drove a Chevrolet. but also raced Ford, Dodge, and Plymouth cars.[http://insiderracingnews.com/Writers/AM/052607.html Racer profile about Paul Lewis] at Insider Racing News During his 10-season career, Lewis made 114 Grand National starts, with 1 career pole in a May 1965 event at North Carolina's Harris Speedway, and scored his only career win at the 1966 Smoky Mountain 200 in Maryville, Tennessee. He led a total of 71 laps in his career as well.{{cite web | url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver/Paul_Lewis | title=Driver }}
During his career, Lewis never ran a full season, and his best season points finish was 14th in 1965 after competing in just under half that year's events.{{cite web | url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/lewispa01/1965/W | title=Driver Season Stats }} He started his career at the age of 27 and ended it at 35 years of age; a latecomer compared today's to NASCAR drivers who generally start their career at the top level between the ages of 18 and 21.
Lewis has managed to earn a grand total of $52,867 from all the racing events that he participated in (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|52867|1968|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation). Dirt tracks helped to contribute to Lewis' best career finishes; with him finishing an average of tenth place. His shortcoming would be restrictor plate tracks; where Lewis would finish a mediocre 30th place on average.[http://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_stats/driver.php?drv_id=1578 NASCAR statistics on Paul Lewis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518221336/http://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_stats/driver.php?drv_id=1578 |date=2013-05-18 }} at Driver Averages
=Owner=
Like many NASCAR drivers of his time, Lewis also drove his own car during some his career; his ownership career spanned from 1962 to 1968. In addition to himself, Buddy Arrington and Tiny Lund also each drove 1 race apiece for Lewis. Total earnings as a NASCAR owner for Lewis was $29,060 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|29060|1968|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation).[http://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_stats/team.php?team_now=1244 NASCAR Team Owner statistics for Paul Lewis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921070527/http://www.driveraverages.com/nascar_stats/team.php?team_now=1244 |date=2015-09-21 }} at Driver Averages
Post-NASCAR career
Lewis still offers advice to stock car racers who live in the vicinity of Johnson City, Tennessee.[http://www.tricities.com/sports/article_2baebfe7-940d-5ed6-b271-c2ad0e7809a6.html Paul Lewis remembers the first BMS race] at TriCities
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Racing-Reference driver|Paul_Lewis}}
{{Bobby Allison Motorsports}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Paul}}