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Jody Ridley
Born (1942-05-19) May 19, 1942 (age 81)
Chatsworth, Georgia, United States
Achievements1991, 1992, 1993 Slim Jim All Pro Series Champion
1987, 1988, 1990 All Pro Super Series Champion
1985 Snowball Derby Winner
1993 Myrtle Beach 400 Winner
Awards1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year
1991, 1992, 1993 Slim Jim All Pro Series Most Popular Driver
Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Inductee (2007)
NASCAR Cup Series career
140 races run over 11 years
Best finish5th (1981)
First race1973 Dixie 500 (Atlanta)
Last race1989 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
First win1981 Mason-Dixon 500 (Dover)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 56 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
3 races run over 2 years
Best finish75th (1982)
First race1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race1985 Winn-Dixie 300 (Charlotte)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 2 0
Statistics current as of March 25, 2013.

Jody Ridley (born May 19, 1942) is a former NASCAR driver. He won the 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award and one race at Dover International Speedway the next year, the only Cup victory for Donlavey Racing.

His career statistics include 140 career starts, one win, seven top fives, 56 top tens, and two top ten points finishes (fifth in 1981, and seventh in 1980).

He now resides in Chatsworth, Georgia. He was inducted in the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.[1]

Early life

Born in Chatsworth, Georgia, and raised in Dalton, Ridley was a fan of cars from a young age. In 1967, he purchased Joe Lee Johnson's 1963 Ford Mustang at the age of 25. At that time, he had only been racing and affiliated with NASCAR for a year, joining the professional leagues in 1966.[2] 1967 would be the beginning of Ridley's career, participating in many NASCAR races throughout Georgia, such as in Lakewood, Trenton, and Byron.[3][4]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 NWCC Pts Ref
1973 Donlavey Racing 90 Mercury RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV CLT DOV TWS RSD MCH DAY BRI ATL
5 		TAL
37 		NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT 59th - [5]
Elliott Racing 09 Ford CAR
31
1974 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL
33 		DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC TAL MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR
30 		ONT 88th 3.17 [6]
1975 93 RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL
29 		NWS DAR MAR TAL ATL
11 		ONT NA 0 [7]
Arrington Racing 6 Dodge NSV
27 		DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI
1977 Makar Enterprises 84 Mercury RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL
14 		NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 87th 121 [8]
1979 Donlavey Racing 77 Mercury RSD DAY CAR RCH ATL NWS BRI DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL
5 		MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT
26 		NWS CAR ATL
10 		ONT 47th 374 [9]
1980 90 Ford RSD
16 		RCH
18 		CAR
29 		BRI
11 		DAR
10 		NWS
7 		MAR
7 		NSV
8 		DOV
6 		TWS
26 		RSD
11 		MCH
6 		NSV
8 		POC
18 		DAR
30 		RCH
5 		DOV
9 		NWS
9 		MAR
9 		CAR
5 		ATL
6 		ONT
18 		7th 3972 [10]
Mercury DAY
10 		ATL
6 		TAL
10 		CLT
12 		DAY
7 		TAL
30 		MCH
18 		BRI
12 		CLT
8
1981 Ford RSD
7 		DAY
7 		RCH
8 		ATL
6 		BRI
6 		NWS
28 		DAR
7 		MAR
6 		TAL
31 		NSV
25 		DOV
1 		CLT
20 		TWS
6 		RSD
7 		MCH
4 		DAY
38 		NSV
10 		POC
15 		TAL
8 		MCH
12 		BRI
20 		DAR
12 		RCH
9 		DOV
11 		MAR
21 		NWS
7 		CLT
15 		CAR
10 		ATL
5 		RSD
9 		5th 4002 [11]
Miller Racing 79 Olds CAR
17
1982 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford DAY
9 		RCH
13 		BRI
20 		ATL
17 		CAR
33 		DAR
22 		NWS
17 		MAR
12 		TAL
38 		NSV
13 		DOV
17 		CLT
6 		POC
9 		RSD
7 		MCH
27 		DAY
15 		NSV
8 		POC
36 		TAL
14 		MCH
26 		BRI
8 		DAR
28 		RCH
25 		DOV
25 		NWS
9 		CLT
7 		MAR
7 		CAR
31 		ATL
28 		RSD
9 		13th 3333 [12]
1983 Robert McEntyre Racing 84 Buick DAY
10 		RCH CAR ATL
17 		DAR
27 		NWS MAR TAL
32 		NSV DOV BRI CLT
DNQ 		RSD POC MCH DAY
8 		NSV POC 32nd 1050 [13]
Chevy TAL
31 		MCH
15 		BRI DAR
33 		RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT
12 		CAR ATL
10 		RSD
1984 DAY
10 		RCH CAR ATL
27 		BRI NWS DAR
36 		MAR TAL
16 		NSV DOV CLT
8 		RSD POC MCH
35 		DAY
19 		NSV
28 		POC TAL
34 		MCH
14 		BRI DAR
16 		RCH DOV
29 		MAR CLT
7 		NWS CAR ATL
32 		RSD 14th 1288 [14]
1985 Helen Rae Motorsports 00 Chevy DAY
DNQ 		RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD NA - [15]
1986 RahMoc Enterprises 57 Ford DAY
12 		RCH CAR ATL
29 		33rd 1213 [16]
75 Pontiac BRI
23 		DAR
20 		NWS
15 		MAR
10 		TAL
42 		DOV
18 		CLT
21 		RSD POC
11 		MCH
34 		DAY
13 		POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD
1989 Melling Racing 9 Ford DAY
RL† 		CAR ATL RCH DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL NA NA
† – Relieved Bill Elliott during race
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1980 Donlavey Racing Mercury 27 10
1981 Ford 27 7
1982 23 9
1983 Robert McEntyre Racing Buick 18 10
1984 Chevrolet 33 10
1985 Helen Rae Motorsports Chevrolet DNQ
1986 RahMoc Enterprises Ford 33 12
1989 Melling Racing Ford RL†

Busch Series

NASCAR Busch Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 NBSC Pts Ref
1982 98 Pontiac DAY
2 		RCH BRI MAR DAR
2 		HCY SBO CRW RCH LGY DOV HCY CLT ASH HCY SBO CAR CRW SBO HCY LGY IRP BRI HCY RCH MAR CLT HCY MAR 75th 340 [17]
1985 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 8 Pontiac DAY CAR HCY BRI MAR DAR SBO LGY DOV CLT
29 		SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO LGY HCY MLW BRI DAR RCH NWS ROU CLT HCY CAR MAR 86th 76 [18]

References

  1. ^ "Inductees". Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  2. ^ Krueger, John; King, J.D. (26 Jun 1967). "Ridley is Victorious in Perry 200 Race". The Macon Telegraph. p. 6. Retrieved 8 Jun 2023.
  3. ^ Zier, Pat (28 Jun 1967). "Big Curtis Heads Field at Lakewood". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. 34. Retrieved 8 Jun 2023.
  4. ^ Krueger, John (4 Jul 1967). "Johnson, Ridley to Duel in '200'". The Macon Telegraph. p. 18. Retrieved 8 Jun 2023.
  5. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  6. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  7. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  8. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  9. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  10. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  11. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  12. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  13. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  14. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  15. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  16. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  17. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1982 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  18. ^ "Jody Ridley – 1985 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2017.

External links

Achievements Preceded byButch Lindley Snowball Derby Winner 1985 Succeeded byGary Balough Awards Preceded byDale Earnhardt NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year 1980 Succeeded byRon Bouchard
Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
RahMoc Enterprises
Donlavey Racing
NASCAR Rookies of the Year
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