NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee spotlight: Richie Evans


Richard Petty may be considered the "King" of NASCAR's Cup level, but Richie Evans is the "King" when it comes to NASCAR's modified ranks, and rightfully so.

The exact numbers aren't known by NASCAR, but it is estimated that Evans posted 475 wins in 1,300 starts in NASCAR Modified racing. In the 13-year span from 1973 to 1985, he captured nine modified titles, eight of them coming in consecutive seasons. The first of those titles came in 1973. Evans won his second championship in 1978 and went on the win modified titles every year through the remainder of his racing career that ended in 1985.

When the NASCAR series that is now dubbed the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was born in 1985, Evans rang in the new series with a season that saw him win 12 races. On the strength of those 12 wins, Evans clinched the 1985 championship before his death in a practice crash at Martinsville Speedway in October of that year.

To read more of this bio, visit Cup Series News and Notes.

Photo of Richie Evans courtesy of ISC Archives/Getty Images
NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee spotlight: Richie Evans NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee spotlight: Richie Evans Reviewed by Amanda Vincent on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 Rating: 5