Randy Dorton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Randy Dorton
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| Born |
Randall Alexander Dorton
May 1, 1954 Concord, North Carolina, U.S.
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| Died | October 24, 2004 (aged 50) Bull Mountain, Patrick County, Virginia, U.S.
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| Occupation | Director of Engine Operations, Lead engine builder |
| Employer | Hendrick Motorsports |
Randall Alexander Dorton (born May 1, 1954 – died October 24, 2004) was a very important person at Hendrick Motorsports. He was in charge of building and managing the powerful engines for their NASCAR race cars. Because of his amazing work, the team won nine NASCAR championships.
Sadly, Randy Dorton passed away on October 24, 2004, in a plane crash. This accident happened in Patrick County, Virginia's Bull Mountain, near Martinsville Speedway. Seven other passengers and two pilots also died in the crash.
Randy Dorton's Career in Racing
Randy Dorton was born in Concord, North Carolina. He started his career in NASCAR in the 1970s. He worked with a famous crew chief named Harry Hyde.
In 1984, a big racing team called Hendrick Motorsports bought Randy's company, Competition Engines. Just two years later, NASCAR and Clevite Engine Parts named him the Engine Builder of the Year.
Randy's engines were super powerful. They helped Hendrick Motorsports win nine NASCAR championships. This included five titles in the Winston Cup Series, one in the Busch Series, and three in the Craftsman Truck Series. Randy also worked with General Motors and Hendrick Motorsports to create new and better engine technology.
The Plane Crash
On October 24, 2004, Randy Dorton and nine other people were on a plane. They were flying to Martinsville Speedway for a race called the Subway 500.
The weather was very foggy. The pilots got lost and flew past the airport. When they tried to turn back, the plane crashed into Bull Mountain. Everyone on board died. The race started just 27 minutes later. The Hendrick driver, Jimmie Johnson, won the race. However, there were no celebrations after the race because of the sad news.
Randy Dorton's Legacy
Randy Dorton left a lasting mark on NASCAR. To honor him, a special 900-horsepower engine was built. This engine was used by Jimmie Johnson in a classic 1967 Chevrolet Camaro. After that, the engine was put on display at the Hendrick Motorsports Museum.
There is also a special award named after him. The trophy given to the winner of the Mahle Engine Builders Challenge is called the Randy Dorton Trophy.
About Randy's Family
Randy Dorton was the son of Jimmy and Lorene Dorton. He had a son named Jonathan and a brother named Keith.
