Buddy Arrington

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Buddy Arrington
Firecracker 400 (Daytona
)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 103 0

Buddy Rogers Arrington

Winston Cup Series
driver and owner.

Racing career

Arrington's 1981 Dodge Mirada
Arrington's 1983 Chrysler Imperial

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,[citation needed] 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.[2] 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.[citation needed] 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[when?] 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 was a regular visitor to his son's company, and often offered advice to young (mostly Dodge) drivers trying to make it in NASCAR racing.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed] 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 2001. 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 pulled all parts sponsorships in 1985.[3]

Arrington died on August 2, 2022, at the age of 84.[4]

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

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 [5]
Plymouth
RCH

11
1965 67 Dodge
RSD
DAY
DAY
DAY PIF ASW
RCH
HBO

5
ATL
38
GPS NWS
33
MAR
5
CLB
BRI

Wth
DAR
CLT

25
CCF NSV
15
BIR
8
OBS
DNQ
ISP
GLN
BRI

12
NSV
3
CCF
AWS

21
AUG

11
CLB DTS BLV BGS DAR
5
MAR

12
NWS
35
CAR

41
22nd 11744 [6]
6 LGY
4
BGS
16
HCY
19
62
ASH

19
HAR
12
GPS

5
MBS VAL
DAY
ODS
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 [7]
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 [8]
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 [9]
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 [10]
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 [11]
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 [12]

Winston Cup Series

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 [13]
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 [14]
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 [15]
1975 Dodge RSD DAY
RCH

6
CAR

9
19th 2654 [16]
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 [17]
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 [18]
Ford ONT
19
1978 RSD
11
RSD

18
ONT
35
9th 3626 [19]
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 [20]
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 [21]
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 [22]
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 [23]
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 [24]
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 [25]
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 [26]
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 [27]
67 DAY
23
RCH
14
CAR
17
ATL

20
BRI

17
DAR

DNQ
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 [28]
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
POC

21
MCH

23
46th 352 [29]
Chevy CLT
DNQ
DOV
RSD
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

References

  1. ^ "Buddy Rogers Arrington Obituary (1938 - 2022) Martinsville Bulletin". Legacy.com.
  2. ^ "Buddy Arrington's Winston Cup NASCAR 1981 Chrysler Imperial". Archived from the original on March 17, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  3. ^ "Inductees :: 2015". Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  4. ^ Srigley, Joseph (August 3, 2022). "Buddy Arrington, Former NASCAR Cup Series Driver, Passes Away at Age 84". tobychristie.com. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1964 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  6. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1965 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  7. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1966 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  8. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1967 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  9. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1968 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  10. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  11. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  12. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  13. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  14. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  15. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  16. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  17. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  18. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  19. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  20. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  21. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  22. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  23. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  24. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  25. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  26. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  27. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  28. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  29. ^ "Buddy Arrington – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2016.

External links