Hoss Ellington facts for kids

Hoss Ellington (May 12, 1935 – May 31, 2014) was a well-known figure in NASCAR. He was both a driver and a successful team owner. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Hoss Ellington competed in 31 races as a driver. He later became famous for owning a racing team. His team won five races with different drivers. These drivers included racing legends like Donnie Allison and David Pearson.

Hoss Ellington: A NASCAR Driver

Hoss Ellington started his NASCAR career as a driver. He made his first big race appearance in 1968. This was at the 1968 Dixie 500 in Atlanta. He drove his own #61 Mercury car. In his first year, he raced in three events.

Racing Highlights as a Driver

In 1969, Hoss Ellington had his best year as a driver. He finished in the top 10 four times. His best finishes were two 7th places. He raced in 15 events that year. In 1970, he competed in three more races. After that, he decided to stop driving. He wanted to focus on running his own racing team.

Becoming a Team Owner

After his driving career, Hoss Ellington became a full-time team owner. He started his team in 1972. His car was usually numbered 28. He worked with many famous drivers over the years.

Early Years as a Team Owner

In 1972, Fred Lorenzen drove for Ellington's team. Lorenzen raced in seven events. He earned two top 5 finishes and three top 10 finishes. Later that year, Cale Yarborough also drove for the team. Yarborough achieved two top 10 finishes in three races.

The team continued to grow in 1973 and 1974. Drivers like Ramo Stott, Charlie Glotzbach, and Gordon Johncock raced for Ellington. In 1974, the team had a good year. A. J. Foyt, Charlie Glotzbach, Bobby Isaac, and Sam McQuagg all drove for Hoss. They earned several top 5 and top 10 finishes.

Success with Donnie Allison

The year 1975 marked the start of a special partnership. Donnie Allison began racing for Hoss Ellington. Allison quickly showed his talent. He finished third in his first race with the team at Talladega.

Winning Races with Allison

In 1976, Donnie Allison brought Hoss Ellington his first win as a team owner. This victory happened at Lowes Motor Speedway. Allison drove the #1 car, which was a second car for the team. A. J. Foyt also helped the team that year. He earned the team's first pole position.

The partnership with Allison continued to be very successful. In 1977, Allison became the main driver for the #1 car. He won two races and earned three pole positions. He also had 10 top 10 finishes. In 1978, Allison won another race in Atlanta. This was his last career win.

The Daytona 500 Incident

In 1979, Donnie Allison was part of a famous moment in NASCAR. He crashed with Cale Yarborough on the last lap of the Daytona 500. They were racing for the lead. After the crash, Allison, Yarborough, and Allison's brother Bobby had a fight. This moment was seen by many people on TV.

Later Years and Team Closure

After 1979, Donnie Allison raced less for Ellington's team. In 1980, David Pearson drove for the team. He won a race, which was the last win for both Pearson and Ellington's team.

Final Seasons of the Team

In 1981, Buddy Baker drove for Ellington. He had nine top 10 finishes. Other drivers like Benny Parsons and Kyle Petty also raced for the team. From 1983 to 1984, Lake Speed was the main driver. He earned four top 5s and twelve top 10s.

In 1985, David Pearson returned for eight races. Donnie Allison's nephew, Davey Allison, also raced three times. In 1986, Sterling Marlin drove part-time for Ellington. He had two top 5s and four top 10s. Marlin nearly won the Firecracker 400, finishing second.

The team's last season was in 1988. Dale Jarrett drove eight races for Ellington. His best finish was 11th. The team tried to race in the 1989 Daytona 500. However, they had engine trouble and did not qualify. After this, the team closed down.

Hoss Ellington passed away on May 31, 2014, in Wilmington, North Carolina. He had been ill for some time.