Not many reach the pinnacle of their professions as quickly as Kirk Shelmerdine.
Born: March 8, 1958
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Championships (4)
Premier – 1986-87, ’90-91 (crew chief)
Premier Series Crew Chief Stats
Competed: 1977-92
Starts: 460
Wins: 46
Poles: 15
At age 25 in 1983, Shelmerdine guided Ricky Rudd to victory at Riverside, the first of two wins during that season. And a scant three years later, he directed Dale Earnhardt to the 1986 premier series championship.
More than a flash in the pan, Shelmerdine won four total premier series championships with Earnhardt (1986, ’87, ’90, ’91). Over his 16-year crew chief career with Earnhardt, Rudd, James Hylton and Richard Childress, he won 46 races and posted top-10 finishes in more than half his starts.
RELATED: Kirk Shelmerdine’s career stats | Members of the Hall of Fame
In 1987, Shelmerdine won 11 races with Earnhardt, including four in a row and six of seven.
Shelmerdine retired from life as a crew chief in 1992 to pursue a career as a driver. In the cockpit, he made 41 starts across all three NASCAR national series.