Grant Adcox

Born

January 2, 1950
Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States

Died

November 19, 1989 (aged 39)
Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia, United States

Cause of death

Racing accident

Height

5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)

Weight

170 lb (77 kg)

Awards

1987, 1988 ARCA Racing Series Bill France Four Crown

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career

60 races run over 11 years

Best finish

29th (1978)

First race

1974 Carolina 500 (Rockingham)

Last race

1989 Atlanta Journal 500 (Atlanta)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
0	6	0

NASCAR Xfinity Series career

1 race run over 1 year

Best finish

80th (1989)

First race

1989 AC-Delco 200 (Rockingham)

Last race

1989 AC-Delco 200 (Rockingham)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
0	0	0

Statistics current as of December 18, 2012.

Herbert Grant Adcox (January 2, 1950 – November 19, 1989) was a stock car racing driver who died in a single-car accident in the 1989 Atlanta Journal 500 in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

Adcox's Winston Cup Series career started in 1974, running a handful of races for father Herb Adcox with sponsorship backing from the family's Chevrolet dealership in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In that year's Winston 500 – considered one of the crown jewels of the sport – held at the fastest track on the circuit, the Talladega Superspeedway, Adcox and his father qualified for the event. With a hundred laps in the books, a caution came out as Donnie Allison's clutch burned out and David Sisco's motor went up in smoke. Gary Bettenhausen, who had pitted a lap after the leaders, was up on jacks as the younger Adcox came down for service. Adcox's car hit an oil and water patch and slammed straight into the Bettenhausen Matador, crushing catch-can man Don Miller between the cars. A young crew member of the Nord Krauskopf team who was pitted nearby, Buddy Parrott, came rushing down to help, while Penske crew members John Woodward and John Watson were also injured. Miller was taken to a hospital and eventually had his right leg amputated. Learning of the extent of Miller's injuries, Adcox went into shock, and his car was withdrawn from the event.

Adcox continued to run sporadic Cup races among the years. Adcox qualified for the 1975 Talladega 500, but his crew chief Gene Lovell suffered a heart attack and died in their garage. Adcox's car was withdrawn but he was able to find a substitute ride. However, the race was delayed for a week due to rain and Adcox was again forced to withdraw. His spot on the grid was given to Tiny Lund, who had not raced in Winston Cup for several years. Lund subsequently died during the race in an accident on lap seven.

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