Waddell Wilson
| Waddell Wilson | |
|---|---|
Wilson in 1985
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| Born |
December 29, 1936 Bakersville, North Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | NASCAR engine builder/crew chief |
Waddell Wilson is a former NASCAR Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup Series) crew chief and engine builder. He was the winning crew chief for the Daytona 500 in 1980, 1983, and 1984. He was crew chief or engine builder for Holman Moody, Harry Ranier, and Hendrick Motorsports. Drivers included Bobby Allison, Mario Andretti, Buddy Baker, Geoff Bodine, A. J. Foyt, Junior Johnson, Fred Lorenzen, Cale Yarborough and Ricky Rudd.
Wilson grew up Bakersville, North Carolina. After graduating from the Nashville Auto and Diesel College in Tennessee, he worked for Cummins Diesel in Miami.
He started driving jalopies, street stocks, and modifieds at the Hialeah, Palmetto and Hollywood short tracks in Florida. "I won a few," Waddell said, "but before long I figured building engines really was my niche."
Wilson began as an engine builder for Holman Moody in the early 1960s and he worked for them into the 1970s. He became recognized after building the engine that Fireball Roberts used to win the 1963 Southern 500. Engines built by Wilson had 109 wins, earned 123 pole positions, and won three championships (David Pearson in 1968-69, Benny Parsons in 1973). Parsons set the record for the first 200-mile-per-hour (320 km/h) qualifying lap at Talladega using an engine built by Wilson.
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