NASCAR Sportsman Division (1989-1995)

The NASCAR Igloo Sportsman Challenge is a discontinued NASCAR division. It was created by Humpy Wheeler in 1989 to give short track drivers superspeedway experience.

In 1989, Humpy Wheeler, the president of Charlotte Motor Speedway, announced the creation of the Sportsman Division, a series in which drivers from short tracks could gain experience on superspeedways. The first Sportsman race was held after qualifying for the 1989 Coca Cola 600. The race was won by Tim Bender.

In 1990, the series' first fatality occurred. During practice, David Gaines and two other drivers were involved in an accident coming off of turn 4. As Steve McEachern came through the turn, he was unable to avoid David Gaines, and struck his car, killing him. McEachern flipped into the grass and came to rest on the grass next to pit road. That race was won by Robbie Faggart.

During a Sportsman race at Charlotte in May of that year, Ed Gartner Jr. was t-boned by Tom D'Eath. Gartner cracked his sternum and fractured his leg, and D'Eath broke his neck. Another severe crash that month took place at Charlotte Motor Speedway, when Philip Ross' car spun coming out of turn 4 and backed into the wall, bursting into flames. Ross got out of the car, but suffered second-degree burns over 30% of his body.

After Ross' crash at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Sportsman Division began going to Pocono instead. The first race there was aired on ESPN, and was won by Kirk Shelmerdine.

In 1992, the series was renamed the Igloo Sportsman Challenge and began awarding a championship. In the qualifying race for the Winston 100, however, the series' second fatality occurred. Red Everette and a few other drivers spun coming out of Turn 4, and Neil Connell, who had driven high to avoid the accident, came into contact with Gary Batson, who was forced onto his driver's side door and dragged along the wall. The two cars caught fire when they came to a stop. Connell managed to escape his car, but Batson was trapped due to being on his driver's side. He suffered burns to 80% of his body, including third-degree burns. He died the next morning. Meanwhile, the Winston 100 aired on TV just before The Winston. That race was won by Robbie Faggart, who went on to win the championship.

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