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Quick Facts
![Buddy Arrington](https://pplstatic.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.comhttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/BuddyArrington67racecar1983.jpg)
Biography
Buddy Arrington (born July 26, 1938) is a retired American NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver.
Racing career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/BuddyArrington67racecar1983.jpg/220px-BuddyArrington67racecar1983.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Buddy_Arrington_Arrington_Racing_Chrysler_Pocono_1984.jpg/220px-Buddy_Arrington_Arrington_Racing_Chrysler_Pocono_1984.jpg)
Arrington has the second-most starts without a win, and finished in the top 10 of NASCAR points twice; in 1978 (ninth) and 1982 (seventh). Arrington was loyal to his Mopar cars and engines, as he ran Chryslers and Dodges until 1985 (Chrysler stopped production of raceable body styles in 1983 and they became ineligible two years later) when the company stopped supporting them. His best career race and finish was at Talladega in 1979, where he had a powerful enough car to lead a few laps towards the end, and finished third. Arrington finished one lap ahead of Richard Petty, driving one of Petty's cast-off Dodge Magnums that were left when Petty abandoned Mopar and began driving General Motors vehicles a year earlier, and several other top NASCAR drivers. Arrington almost always ran his own car, and his operation was a very money-conscious effort. His pit crew were almost always unpaid volunteers, and he relied heavily (and almost exclusively) on used equipment with Petty's old Magnums being his primary cars. Since Arrington could not afford new cars, his team would have to reconfigure the Petty cars and re-skin them into Dodge Miradas or Chrysler Imperials for a 1981 rule change.
Arrington's two Chrysler Imperials were the last Chrysler products to run in the NASCAR Winston Cup series. He ran the car at first in two races in the 1981 season, and in more races (alternating with Dodge Miradas) until April 1985, when at that point the parts supply, even used, for Chrysler products (Chrysler factory support ended in late 1978) dried up. He sold one of the Imperials (purchased from Cecil Gordon in 1984) to Phil Goode in April 1985 (Goode raced it till the end of the 1985 season), and his other Imperial was given to the NASCAR Hall of Fame at Talladega, Alabama. Arrington was always a much-liked man on the NASCAR circuit, and other teams and a small, but loyal fan club pitched in to help keep him racing. In 1985 the generosity of rising NASCAR star driver Bill Elliott (who sold Buddy his slightly used Ford Thunderbird race cars and parts on the cheap) kept Arrington driving until 1988. Buddy's son Joey Arrington (who at the age of 17 served on Buddy's pit crew, and built up his engines), now runs Arrington Manufacturing in Martinsville, Virginia. The company builds racing engines (mostly Dodges) for the Craftsman Truck Series, and test engines for Nextel Cup Nationwide series cars. Buddy Arrington is a regular visitor to his son's company, and often offers advice to young (mostly Dodge) drivers trying to make it in NASCAR racing.
Arrington is a noted figure in NASCAR and Mopar history. He began professional NASCAR racing in December 1963 behind the wheel of his Dodge hardtop, and for the next twenty-five years, he never missed a season; finally retiring from the sport in 1988. What made Arrington unique in the history of the sport was his absolute dedication and loyalty to Chrysler, and his positive attitude in spite of what often seemed like insurmountable odds. Being the team owner and driver, Arrington drove Dodges from 1964 all the way through mid-season 1985. In 1984 and 1985, his Chrysler Imperial became the last Chrysler product in NASCAR until Dodge reentered the sport in 1999. As prolific a racer as Buddy Arrington was, and as popular as he still remains among fans, he never won a single NASCAR race. In his 560 career starts, he mustered fifteen top-five finishes, and his highest points finish was seventh, achieved in 1982. Still, Buddy Arrington never abandoned the Mopar banner until Mopar completely abandoned him, and pulling all parts sponsorships in 1985.
Motorsports career 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
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 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | NGNC | Pts | Ref |
1964 | Arrington Racing | 78 | Dodge | CON | AUG | JSP 8 | SVH | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | BRI 25 | GPS 14 | BGS | ATL | AWS | HBO 13 | PIF | CLB | NWS 18 | MAR 27 | SVH | DAR 31 | LGY | HCY | SBO 12 | CLT | GPS 7 | ASH 10 | ATL | CON 15 | NSV | CHT | BIR | VAL | PIF 14 | DAY | ODS 5 | OBS | BRR | ISP | GLN | LIN | BRI 9 | NSV 23 | MBS | AWS 19 | DTS | ONA 10 | CLB 12 | BGS 23 | STR | DAR | HCY 11 | RCH 12 | ODS | HBO 5 | MAR 42 | SVH | NWS 31 | CLT | HAR 9 | AUG 14 | JAC 8 | 34th | 6364 | ||
Plymouth | RCH 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1965 | 67 | Dodge | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | PIF | ASW | RCH | HBO 5 | ATL 38 | GPS | NWS 33 | MAR 5 | CLB | BRI | DAR | CLT 25 | CCF | NSV 15 | BIR 8 | BRI 12 | NSV 3 | CCF | AWS 21 | AUG 11 | CLB | DTS | BLV | BGS | DAR 5 | MAR 12 | NWS 35 | CAR 41 | 22nd | 11744 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | LGY 4 | BGS 16 | HCY 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
62 | ASH 19 | HAR 12 | GPS 5 | MBS | VAL | DAY | ODS | OBS | ISP | GLN | SMR 24 | PIF 7 | HCY 25 | LIN 8 | ODS 13 | RCH 22 | HBO 18 | DTS 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lester Hunter | 35 | Dodge | ATL 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Langley Racing | 84 | Ford | CLT 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1966 | Arrington Racing | 67 | Dodge | AUG | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | CAR 25 | BRI 27 | MAR 36 | DAR 27 | LGY | MGR | MON | RCH | CLT 19 | DTS | ASH | PIF | SMR | AWS | BLV | GPS | DAY 36 | ODS 24 | BRR | OXF | FON | ISP | BRI | ATL 6 | DAR 39 | HCY | RCH 23 | HBO 9 | MAR 32 | NWS 15 | CLT 44 | 32nd | 7636 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joan Petre | 73 | Ford | ATL 28 | HCY | CLB | GPS 23 | BGS 22 | NWS 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fox Racing | 3 | Dodge | SMR 24 | NSV 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arrington Racing | 65 | Dodge | CLB 24 | AWS 11 | BLV 8 | BGS 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul Lewis | 1 | Plymouth | CAR 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1967 | Arrington Racing | 67 | Dodge | AUG | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | AWS | BRI | GPS | BGS | ATL 14 | CLB | HCY 9 | NWS 27 | MAR 9 | SVH | RCH 16 | DAR 28 | BLV 9 | LGY 12 | CLT 17 | ASH 5 | MGR 24 | SMR | BIR | CAR 39 | GPS | MGY | DAY | TRN | OXF | FDA | ISP | BRI 22 | SMR | NSV | ATL | BGS | CLB | SVH | DAR 15 | HCY | RCH | BLV | HBO | MAR | NWS DNQ | 26th | 9768 | |||||||||||||||||
69 | CLT 9 | CAR | AWS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1968 | 67 | MGR | MGY | RSD | DAY 11 | BRI | RCH | ATL | 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 | NA | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
1969 | MGR | MGY | RSD | DAY 6 | DAY | DAY 28 | CAR 19 | AUG | BRI 26 | ATL 10 | CLB | HCY | GPS | RCH 23 | NWS 8 | MAR 5 | AWS | DAR | BLV 15 | LGY 9 | CLT 22 | MGR | SMR | MCH | KPT | GPS | NCF | DAY 23 | DOV | TPN | TRN | BLV | BRI | NSV | SMR | ATL | MCH | SBO | BGS | AWS | DAR | HCY | RCH | TAL | CLB | MAR 5 | NWS 27 | CLT 36 | SVH | AUG | CAR 35 | JFC | MGR | TWS | 33rd | 1099 | ||||||||||||
1970 | 5 | RSD | DAY | DAY 25 | DAY 29 | RCH | CAR | SVH | ATL | BRI | TAL | NWS | CLB | DAR 6 | BLV | LGY | CLT 13 | SMR | MAR 19 | MCH 39 | RSD | HCY | KPT | GPS | DAY 14 | AST | TPN | TRN | BRI 29 | SMR 27 | NSV 32 | ATL 18 | CLB | ONA | MCH 32 | TAL 42 | BGS | SBO | DAR 14 | HCY | RCH 26 | DOV | NCF | NWS 28 | CLT 8 | MAR 12 | MGR | CAR 40 | LGY | 33rd | 1087 | |||||||||||||||||
1971 | RSD | DAY | DAY | DAY | ONT | RCH | CAR | HCY | BRI | ATL | CLB | GPS | SMR | NWS | MAR | DAR | SBO | TAL | ASH | KPT | CLT | DOV | MCH | RSD | HOU | GPS | DAY | BRI | AST | ISP | TRN | NSV | ATL | BGS | ONA | MCH | TAL | CLB | HCY | DAR | MAR 14 | CLT | DOV | CAR | MGR | RCH | NWS | TWS | NA | 0 |
Winston Cup Series
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 | NWCC | Pts | Ref | |||||||
1972 | Arrington Racing | 67 | Plymouth | RSD | DAY 32 | RCH | ONT | 22nd | 4555.89 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dodge | CAR 8 | ATL 11 | BRI DNQ | DAR 6 | NWS | MAR 27 | TAL 31 | CLT 7 | DOV | MCH 9 | RSD | TWS | DAY 17 | BRI | TRN | ATL 13 | TAL 5 | MCH 33 | NSV | DAR 6 | RCH 10 | DOV 27 | MAR 7 | NWS 11 | CLT 8 | CAR 10 | TWS 34 | |||||||||||||||||
1973 | RSD | DAY 9 | RCH 17 | NWS 25 | DAR 13 | MAR 18 | NSV 14 | DOV 21 | MCH 16 | BRI 30 | ATL 11 | NSV 12 | DAR 14 | RCH 5 | DOV 40 | NWS 25 | MAR 9 | 12th | 5483.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plymouth | CAR 12 | BRI 14 | ATL 15 | TAL 49 | CLT 32 | TWS 17 | RSD | DAY 18 | TAL 27 | CLT 7 | CAR 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1974 | RSD | DAY DNQ | RCH 10 | CAR 16 | BRI 21 | ATL | DAR 16 | NWS 27 | MAR 17 | TAL 46 | NSV 10 | DOV 12 | CLT 19 | RSD | MCH 12 | DAY 21 | BRI 8 | NSV 9 | ATL 15 | POC 16 | TAL | MCH | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT | CAR | ONT | 30th | 221.2 | ||||||||||||
1975 | Dodge | RSD | DAY | RCH 6 | CAR 9 | 19th | 2654 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plymouth | BRI 15 | ATL | NWS 20 | DAR 10 | MAR 14 | TAL 38 | NSV 28 | DOV 13 | CLT 26 | RSD | MCH 15 | DAY 21 | NSV 25 | POC 12 | TAL 24 | MCH 22 | DAR 17 | DOV 18 | NWS 18 | MAR 11 | RCH 12 | CAR 13 | BRI 15 | ATL 20 | ONT | |||||||||||||||||||
Chevy | CLT 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1976 | Dodge | RSD | DAY 11 | CAR 31 | ATL 30 | DAR 24 | MAR 28 | TAL 22 | NSV 26 | DOV 31 | CLT 14 | RSD | MCH 11 | DAY 40 | NSV 26 | TAL 33 | MCH | DAR 35 | RCH 18 | DOV 10 | MAR 11 | CLT 12 | CAR 16 | ATL | ONT DNQ | 20th | 2573 | |||||||||||||||||
Plymouth | RCH 11 | BRI 9 | NWS 18 | POC 7 | BRI 17 | NWS 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1977 | Dodge | RSD | DAY 38 | RCH 24 | CAR 14 | ATL 11 | NWS 10 | DAR 14 | BRI 14 | MAR | TAL 19 | NSV 15 | DOV 11 | CLT 18 | RSD 19 | MCH 19 | DAY 22 | NSV 9 | POC 15 | TAL 12 | MCH 14 | BRI 10 | DAR 14 | RCH 25 | DOV 13 | MAR 7 | NWS 10 | CLT 17 | CAR 12 | ATL 17 | 11th | 3247 | ||||||||||||
Ford | ONT 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1978 | RSD 11 | RSD 18 | ONT 35 | 9th | 3626 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dodge | DAY 16 | RCH 15 | CAR 9 | ATL 14 | BRI 8 | DAR 18 | NWS 11 | MAR 5 | TAL 12 | DOV 13 | CLT 15 | NSV 9 | MCH 12 | DAY 34 | NSV 12 | POC 14 | TAL 15 | MCH 12 | BRI 12 | DAR 8 | RCH 16 | DOV 22 | MAR 10 | NWS 13 | CLT 14 | CAR 9 | ATL 16 | |||||||||||||||||
1979 | Ford | RSD 18 | RSD 9 | 11th | 3589 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dodge | DAY 12 | CAR 19 | RCH 15 | ATL 29 | NWS 25 | BRI 13 | DAR 25 | MAR 22 | TAL 3 | NSV 26 | DOV 10 | CLT 12 | TWS 9 | MCH 15 | DAY 15 | NSV 17 | POC 22 | TAL 8 | MCH 20 | BRI 14 | DAR 14 | RCH 13 | DOV 32 | MAR 7 | CLT 12 | NWS 9 | CAR 17 | ATL 17 | ONT 19 | |||||||||||||||
1980 | RSD 14 | DAY 41 | RCH 6 | CAR 25 | ATL 19 | BRI 21 | DAR 14 | NWS 13 | MAR 10 | TAL 18 | NSV 27 | DOV 26 | CLT 10 | TWS 28 | RSD 14 | MCH 23 | DAY 10 | NSV 10 | POC 13 | TAL 38 | MCH 13 | BRI 20 | DAR 17 | RCH 12 | DOV 13 | NWS 26 | MAR 8 | CLT 13 | CAR 12 | ATL 11 | ONT 10 | 12th | 3461 | |||||||||||
1981 | RSD 9 | DAY 26 | RCH 16 | CAR 37 | ATL 14 | BRI 13 | NWS 29 | DAR 13 | MAR 8 | TAL 17 | DOV 7 | CLT 15 | TWS 13 | RSD 26 | MCH 12 | DAY 17 | NSV 28 | POC 16 | MCH 35 | BRI 10 | DAR 37 | RCH 13 | DOV 14 | MAR 11 | NWS 10 | CLT 10 | CAR 14 | ATL 17 | RSD 24 | 11th | 3381 | |||||||||||||
Negre Racing | NSV 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arrington Racing | Chrysler | TAL 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1982 | Dodge | DAY 15 | RCH 14 | BRI 15 | ATL 14 | CAR 9 | DAR 8 | NWS 16 | MAR 8 | TAL 11 | NSV 14 | DOV 11 | CLT 11 | POC 12 | RSD 15 | MCH 15 | DAY 12 | NSV 22 | POC 9 | TAL 20 | BRI 16 | DAR 9 | RCH 16 | DOV 7 | NWS 21 | MAR 10 | CAR 23 | 7th | 3642 | |||||||||||||||
Chrysler | MCH 6 | CLT 22 | ATL 14 | RSD 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1983 | DAY 16 | CAR 22 | NWS 15 | TAL 23 | NSV 16 | DOV 19 | BRI 16 | CLT 12 | RSD 17 | MCH 29 | DAY 34 | NSV 24 | BRI 13 | NWS 18 | CLT 34 | ATL 14 | 15th | 3158 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dodge | RCH 20 | ATL 16 | DAR 23 | MAR 9 | POC 17 | POC 32 | TAL 18 | MCH 23 | DAR 18 | RCH 14 | DOV 23 | MAR 10 | CAR 12 | RSD 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1984 | Chrysler | DAY 25 | RCH | CAR 15 | NWS 20 | MAR 25 | TAL 24 | DOV 32 | RSD 21 | POC 23 | MCH 18 | DAY 36 | NSV 17 | POC 16 | TAL 21 | MCH 31 | BRI 13 | DAR 28 | RCH 23 | DOV 17 | 20th | 2504 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dodge | ATL 20 | BRI 22 | DAR 11 | NSV 21 | CLT 32 | MAR 18 | CLT DNQ | CAR 20 | ATL DNQ | RSD DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas Racing | 41 | Chevy | NWS 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1985 | Arrington Racing | 67 | Dodge | DAY | RCH | CAR 16 | 20th | 2780 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chrysler | ATL 18 | BRI 25 | RSD 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ford | DAR 17 | NWS 20 | MAR 15 | TAL 14 | DOV 23 | CLT 22 | POC 19 | MCH 23 | DAY 16 | POC 18 | TAL 16 | MCH 10 | BRI 15 | DAR 18 | RCH 22 | DOV 11 | MAR 21 | NWS 23 | CLT 17 | CAR 16 | ATL 20 | RSD 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1986 | 65 | DAY DNQ | 20th | 2776 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
67 | DAY 23 | RCH 14 | CAR 17 | ATL 20 | BRI 17 | DAR | NWS 21 | MAR 15 | TAL 22 | DOV 15 | CLT DNQ | RSD 19 | POC 21 | MCH | DAY 25 | POC 17 | TAL 21 | GLN 24 | MCH 19 | BRI 16 | DAR 20 | RCH 12 | DOV 15 | MAR 19 | NWS 19 | CLT 22 | CAR 17 | ATL 21 | RSD 18 | |||||||||||||||
1987 | Fillip Racing | 81 | Ford | DAY | CAR | RCH 17 | ATL | DAR | NWS | BRI | MAR 11 | TAL | 25th | 1885 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arrington Racing | 67 | Ford | CLT 12 | DOV 18 | POC 25 | RSD | MCH 37 | DAY 28 | POC 17 | TAL | GLN 20 | MCH 23 | BRI 17 | DAR 24 | RCH 14 | DOV 19 | MAR 29 | NWS 27 | CLT 14 | CAR 24 | RSD 21 | ATL 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1988 | DAY DNQ | RCH QL† | CAR | ATL DNQ | DAR 28 | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | RSD | POC 21 | MCH 23 | 46th | 352 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chevy | DAY 28 | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | PHO | ATL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
† - Qualified but replaced by Ken Schrader |
Daytona 500
Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | Arrington Racing | Dodge | 22 | 11 |
1969 | 13 | 28 | ||
1970 | 32 | 29 | ||
1972 | Arrington Racing | Plymouth | 22 | 32 |
1973 | Dodge | 36 | 9 | |
1974 | Plymouth | DNQ | ||
1976 | Arrington Racing | Dodge | 37 | 11 |
1977 | 38 | 38 | ||
1978 | 17 | 16 | ||
1979 | 15 | 12 | ||
1980 | 31 | 41 | ||
1981 | 20 | 26 | ||
1982 | 39 | 15 | ||
1983 | Chrysler | 34 | 16 | |
1984 | 28 | 25 | ||
1986 | Arrington Racing | Ford | 35 | 23 |
1988 | Arrington Racing | Ford | DNQ |