Joe Weatherly

Born: May 29, 1922
Died: Jan. 19, 1964
Hometown: Norfolk, Va.
Competed: 1952-64
Starts: 229
Wins: 25
Poles: 18

Career Highlights
Weatherly won two championships (1962-63) and 25 races in the Cup Series. But that's only part of his story, which is long on versatility.

A decade earlier in 1952-53, he won 101 races in the NASCAR Modified division, capturing that championship in '53. He even tried his hand in NASCAR's short-lived Convertible Division from 1956-59.

Weatherly was one of the first drivers who attracted fans to NASCAR as much for his personality as his racing ability, thus his nickname the "Clown Prince of Stock Car Racing."

When he won his first Cup Series championship, in 1962, he drove for legendary owner Bud Moore. When he repeated as champion a year later, he drove for nine different teams.

Weatherly was named one of the NASCAR's "50 Greatest Drivers" in 1998.