Jimmie Lewallen

Jimmy Lewallen

Born

August 22, 1919
Archdale, North Carolina, U.S.

Died

October 16, 1995 (aged 76)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.

Cause of death

Cancer

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career

142 races run over 12 years

Best finish

8th (1954)

First race

(Charlotte)

Last race

1960 International 200 (Bowman Gray)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
0	57	1

NASCAR Convertible Division career

38 races run over 3 years

Best finish

6th (1956)

First race

1956 Race No. 12 (Langhorne)

Last race

1959 Catawba 250 (Hickory)

Wins	Top tens	Poles
0	26	1

Jimmie Lewallen (August 22, 1919 – October 16, 1995) was an American racing driver from High Point, North Carolina, USA. He competed in NASCAR's Strictly Stock/Grand National division (now called the Sprint Cup Series) from its first race at Charlotte Speedway in 1949 until 1960.

Lewallen began his racing career in motorcycles in 1934. He switched to racing cars in the late 1930s when he delivered illegal moonshine to other parts of North Carolina. Many early NASCAR drivers were moonshine runners. He raced at a one-mile (1.6 km) dirt track in High Point, until he went off to World War II in 1941. He served in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) until 1945, including the Battle of Normandy. He was wounded twice and received numerous medals.

He resumed racing after he returned home from the war. Lewallen attended an October 12, 1946 meeting that formed NASCAR. The meeting was held at the Rex Hotel on Peachtree Street in Atlanta Georgia. Around twelve people attended, including Bill France, Sr., Red Vogt, and Raymond Parks. Bill France offered him a chance to "buy into NASCAR" for $500.00 ($6,140.78 when adjusted for inflation) but Lewallen turned him down, saying "it would never amount to anything".

Lewallen raced in NASCAR's first stockcar race at Charlotte Speedway in 1949. He finished sixteenth and earned $25 ($251.64 when adjusted for inflation). Lewallen won the Modified championship at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1950 and would later drive a second car for Petty Enterprises in 1953 at West Palm Beach Speedway. That would result in finishing second for that race behind teammate Lee Petty. He had three consecutive Top 10 finishes in the series points from 1953 until 1955. His best career race finish was second, which he accomplished four times. While Lewallen never won in the Grand National Division, he won dozens of races in NASCAR's Modified and Sportsman divisions as well as the 1950 Bowman Gray Stadium Modified Championship. Lewallen raced for various owners throughout his career. He raced in various divisions until 1975. He helped found the "Old Timer Racing Club". Lewallen died from cancer on October 16, 1995 at a Winston-Salem hospital.

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