Leonard Wood (racing)
Leonard Wood | |
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Born | Leonard Earle Wood September 22, 1934 Stuart, Virginia, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Crew chief, engine builder |
Organization | Wood Brothers Racing |
Leonard Earle Wood (born September 22, 1934) is a former NASCAR crew chief, engine builder and co-founder of Wood Brothers Racing.[1] Considered the innovator of the modern pit stop, Wood's team is recognized as the first to record a 25-second four-tire pit stop in NASCAR history.[2] During his tenure as crew chief, the Wood team won 96 races with 117 poles clinched.[3]
Early life
Wood was born on September 22, 1934, on a family farm near Stuart, Virginia as one of six children (five sons and one daughter),[4] and began building vehicles when he built a wagon with logs for wheels, which is intended to roll downhill. When he was 13, Wood placed a washing machine engine on a go-kart frame and used various pulleys and chains from salvaged vehicles at his father's shop to propel the vehicle, which was able to reach a top speed of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). The go-kart is currently on display in Stuart's Wood Brothers Museum.[1] In high school, Wood learned to build an engine from watching his father, Walter, disassemble the engine from the team's car and successfully rebuild it.[3]
NASCAR
In 1950, Wood and two of his brothers,
In 2006, Wood was inducted into the
Awards
He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000, along with his brother Glen.[12]
References
- ^ a b c Aumann, Mark (2012-01-10). "Wood's impact on NASCAR felt to this day". NASCAR. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ^ a b "Leonard Wood leads new NASCAR Hall class". The Roanoke Times. 2012-05-24. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ^ a b c "Wood could do anything with a race car". NASCAR. 2013-01-09. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
- ^ "Crystal's Christmas Ornaments Evoke Precious Wood Family Memories". Wood Brothers Racing. 2010-12-16. Archived from the original on 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ^ Iacobelli, Pete (2013-05-26). "Wood Brothers hit NASCAR milestone". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
- ^ Zimmerman, Jenny (2001-06-06). "Know Your NASCAR: The Woods". NASCAR. Archived from the original on 2002-02-13. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ^ Menzer, Joe (2011-01-07). "Evolution of the pit stop". NASCAR. Archived from the original on 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ^ "Leonard Wood has NASCAR Hall of Fame credentials". Fox Sports. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ^ Fryer, Jenna (2013-02-07). "Wallace and famed car Midnight headed into Hall". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2013-02-11.
- ^ White, Rea (2012-05-24). "Wallace, Wood among 2013 Hall class". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ^ Brian De Los Santos (2012-07-26). "Wood Brothers to honor Leonard Wood with special paint scheme at Brickyard". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ^ Wood Brothers at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America