Thomas began racing in '50s, guided son Ronnie's NASCAR career
Cerry Era "Jabe" Thomas, a former NASCAR driver and father of 1978 Rookie of the Year Ronnie Thomas, passed away Thursday, June 4.
Thomas, a native of Christiansburg, Virginia, was 85.
Between 1965 and 1978, Thomas made 322 starts in NASCAR's premier series, earning three top-five and 77 top-10 finishes. During a four-year stretch from 1968-71, he finished eighth or higher in the season-long points standings. His top-five results came at Greenville, Asheville and Columbia while competing in an entry fielded by himself and fellow owner Don Robertson.
Thomas began his racing career in the 1950s, competing on dirt tracks in Virginia; he won the '58 track championship at Radford Speedway (known today at Motor Mile). He was 35 when he made the move to NASCAR's top division.
Although he made his final start in '78, finishing 37th in the Delaware 500 at Dover International Speedway, Thomas continued to be involved in NASCAR, serving as the guiding force for his son Ronnie's racing career. The younger Thomas posted two top-10 finishes in 1978, at Nashville and Darlington, en route to the rookie title against a field that also included Roger Hamby, Blackie Wangerin, Baxter Price and Al Holbert.