Dick Brooks

Richard Brooks (April 14, 1942 February 1, 2006) was an American NASCAR driver. Born in Porterville, California, he was the 1969 NASCAR Rookie of the Year, and went on to win the 1973 Talladega 500. Brooks held off veteran Buddy Baker by 7.2 seconds for the Talladega win. After he retired, he served as a NASCAR sportscaster for a brief period of time. His Grand National statistics include the win at Talladega Superspeedway, 57 top fives, 150 top tens, 4 top-ten points finishes (1975 through 1978), and 358 career races. Although Brooks only won one NASCAR race, he was a popular figure in that league of motorsports. Brooks drove for the underfunded Junie Donlavey team throughout his racing career.

Dick Brooks
BornRichard Brooks
(1942-04-14)April 14, 1942
Porterville, California
DiedFebruary 1, 2006(2006-02-01) (aged 63)
Cause of deathPneumonia
Awards1969 NASCAR Grand National Series Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Cup Series career
358 races run over 17 years
Best finish6th (1977)
First race1969 Daytona 500 qualifier No. 1 (Daytona)
Last race1985 Coca-Cola World 600 (Charlotte)
First win1973 Talladega 500 (Talladega)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 150 0

Career

1983 racecar
1984 racecar

Brooks made his Grand National Series debut at the first Daytona 500 Qualifying Race in 1969, driving a self-owned Plymouth.[1] Brooks had a solid year, and with 12 top-tens he finished 21st in the final standings. This also meant Brooks became the rookie of the year. He continued to drive his Plymouth in 1970 and scored 15 top-five finishes in 34 races, improving to 13th in the final points standings. Brooks came close to winning the 1970 Georgia 500, but eventually finished third to Richard Petty and Bobby Isaac after having led 133 laps.[2] In 1971 Brooks moved to the team of Mario Rossi, driving the No. 22 Dodge. In 15 races with the team Books scored 12 top-ten finishes. His best run of the season came at Darlington were he finished second to Buddy Baker.

For the next two seasons, Brooks did not have a full-time ride and practically picked up whatever ride came up. Brooks started the 1972 season at the Atlanta 500, driving the No. 90 Ford for Junie Donlavey. Brooks made three additional starts for Donlavey with a best finish of eighth, at the Winston 500. Brooks also drove five races for Marvin Welty but failed to finish any of them. Brooks only finished one other race that year, when he drove for Bill Champion at the Texas 500.[3] Brooks started out his 1973 season driving the No. 6 Owens Racing Dodge to a third place finish at the Daytona 500. He returned to Donlavey and drove eight races for that team in 1973. The highlight of Brooks's career came at the Talladega 500, when he drove the Plymouth of Jimmy Crawford to an unexpected victory. Brooks was not supposed to drive Crawford's Plymouth, but after officials ruled that Crawford did not have enough experience on the big speedway, Brooks took over the ride.[4]

Without a ride for the 1974 season, Brooks started to field a self-owned Dodge. Of the 16 races that Brooks entered that year he finished three times. His best finish of the season was in the Volunteer 500 at Bristol International Speedway.[5]

Brooks returned to Donlavey for the 1975 season, driving the No. 90 Ford once again. In 25 races Brooks scored 15 top-ten finishes of which he finished six in the top five. His best result that season was a second place, in the Delaware 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway. Brooks also finished in the top ten in the final points standings for the first time.[6] He continued to drive for Donlavey Racing in 1976. Brooks scored 18 top-ten finishes that year and he finished 10th in the final points standings for the second year in succession. Brooks continued his good run for Donlavey Racing in 1977. He scored a total of 20 top-ten finishes that season of which he finished seven in the top five. He finished sixth in the final points standings, which would turn out to be a career high.[7] Brooks had another good year in 1978, with 17 top-ten finishes. He finished eight in the final points standings and left the Donlavey team at the end of the season.

Brooks moved to the team of Nelson Malloch in 1979, driving the No. 05 Oldsmobile and Chevy. Brooks had a lot of mechanical issues during the season and only managed to finish 13 of 27 races that year. Brooks scored eight top-ten finishes during the year and finished 22nd in the final points standings. He stayed with Malloch for the 1980 season but left the team after he only finished five of the first 16 races. Brooks entered in three more races that season, which he drove for Banjo Matthews.[8]

Brooks only drove five races each season in 1981 and 1982 before reuniting with Donlavey for 1983. After finishing fifth in the Daytona 500, he had several other solid runs. After four races, Brooks led the point standings for the only time in his NASCAR career. Brooks also led the most laps in the third race of the year, at Rockingham, but retired on lap 384. This was the only time in Brooks's career that he led the most laps during a race.[9] Brooks faded to 14th at season's end. In 1984, the Donlavey team struggled to keep up with the better-financed teams and Brooks finished 15th. After driving three races for the Petty Enterprises team in 1985, Brooks left. His final NASCAR race was behind the wheel of a Rick Hendrick-owned car in the 1985 World 600 where he finished in tenth place.[10]

Midway through the 1994 season, Brooks purchased the No. 40 Pontiac team from SABCO Racing, inheriting driver Bobby Hamilton and sponsor Kendall Oil. Hamilton left for Petty Enterprises in 1995, and Brooks fielded the No. 40 for Greg Sacks, Rich Bickle, Shane Hall, Andy Hillenburg, Randy LaJoie, and Butch Leitzinger, but after a season which saw the car lead only two laps with a best finish of 12th, Brooks sold the team back to SABCO.

Later life and death

Brooks lent his name to a series of car dealerships in North and South Carolina.

After complications from a plane crash in late 2004, Brooks died of pneumonia on February 1, 2006.[11]

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)

Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National 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 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 NGNC Pts Ref
1969 Brooks Racing 32 Plymouth MGR MGY RSD DAY
16
DAY DAY
32
CAR
12
AUG BRI ATL
40
CLB HCY GPS RCH NWS
18
MAR
16
AWS
7
DAR
30
BLV LGY CLT
33
MGR
9
SMR MCH
24
KPT GPS NCF DAY
28
DOV TPN TRN
8
BLV BRI
25
NSV SMR ATL
10
MCH
31
SBO BGS AWS
3
DAR
7
HCY
6
RCH
24
TAL
5
CLB MAR
35
NWS
8
CLT
6
SVH
25
AUG CAR
6
JFC MGR
24
TWS
5
21st 1780 [12]
1970 RSD
33
DAY
7
DAY DAY
19
RCH CAR
3
SVH ATL
26
BRI
5
TAL
13
NWS
5
CLB DAR
2
BLV LGY CLT
31
SMR
4
MAR
5
HCY
2
KPT GPS
3
DAY
5
AST TPN
4
TRN
4
BRI
26
SMR
3
NSV
35
ATL
26
CLB
17
ONA MCH
3
TAL
40
BGS SBO DAR
8
HCY
4
RCH
9
DOV NCF NWS
26
CLT
30
MAR
16
MGR
3
CAR
39
LGY 13th 2460 [13]
Dennis Gallion 86 Dodge MCH
37
RSD
30
1971 Mario Rossi 22 Dodge RSD DAY DAY
3
DAY
7
ONT
5
RCH CAR
5
HCY
14
BRI
3
ATL
14
CLB
3
GPS
3
SMR
5
NWS
3
MAR
23
DAR
2
SBO TAL ASH KPT CLT
10
DOV MCH
8
RSD HOU GPS DAY BRI AST ISP TRN NSV ATL BGS ONA MCH TAL CLB 36th 939 [14]
95 Chevy HCY
22
Ferguson-Stephens 66 Pontiac DAR
39
Ford MAR
26
CLT
39
DOV CAR
Brooks Racing 32 Plymouth MGR
20
RCH NWS TWS

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
1972 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford RSD DAY RCH ONT CAR ATL
40
BRI MCH
27
MCH
40
NSV 49th 1023.5 [15]
Blank & Kalashian 66 Pontiac DAR
35
NWS MAR
Donlavey Racing 98 Ford TAL
8
Marvin Welty 73 Ford CLT
36
DOV RSD
33
TWS
35
DAY BRI TRN ATL
38
TAL
40
Seifert Racing 45 Mercury DAR
32
RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT
40
Bud Moore Engineering 15 Ford CAR
34
Champion Racing 1 Ford TWS
17
1973 Owens Racing 6 Dodge RSD DAY
3
RCH 27th 3200.7 [16]
Donlavey Racing 90 Ford CAR
5
BRI CLT
9
DOV TWS RSD MCH DAY
9
BRI ATL
Mercury ATL
7
NWS NSV
32
RCH
27
DOV NWS
8
MAR
98 Ford DAR
11
MAR
Crawford Racing 22 Plymouth TAL
23
NSV TAL
1
B & B Racing 61 Chevy DAR
9
Brooks Racing 32 Dodge CLT
34
CAR
7
1974 RSD DAY
9
RCH CAR
12
BRI ATL
24
DAR
29
NWS
24
MAR TAL
29
NSV DOV CLT
27
RSD MCH
19
DAY
15
BRI
7
NSV ATL POC TAL
29
MCH
8
DAR
34
RCH
16
DOV NWS MAR CLT
36
27th 267.52 [17]
28 Chevy CAR
31
ONT
1975 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford RSD DAY
22
RCH
4
CAR
4
BRI
19
ATL
4
NWS
8
DAR
25
MAR
8
TAL
3
NSV DOV
29
CLT
7
RSD MCH
7
DAY
6
NSV POC TAL
38
MCH
20
DAR
26
DOV
2
NWS
11
MAR
6
CLT
35
RCH
3
CAR
29
BRI
6
ATL
7
ONT
8
10th 3182 [18]
1976 Miller Racing 95 Chevy RSD
33
10th 3447 [19]
Donlavey Racing 90 Ford DAY
41
CAR
24
RCH
26
BRI
6
ATL
7
NWS
7
DAR
35
MAR
5
TAL
12
NSV DOV
7
CLT
7
RSD MCH
6
DAY
8
POC
31
TAL
3
MCH
29
BRI
7
DAR
6
RCH
8
DOV
6
MAR
6
NWS
6
CLT
9
CAR
8
ATL
29
ONT
4
Langley Racing 64 Ford NSV
29
1977 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford RSD DAY
5
RCH
27
CAR
22
ATL
23
NWS
6
DAR
9
BRI
2
MAR
6
TAL
7
DOV
5
CLT
8
MCH
7
DAY
9
NSV
5
POC
5
TAL
39
MCH
6
BRI
4
DAR
34
RCH
8
DOV
8
MAR
26
NWS
8
CLT
6
CAR
5
ATL
37
ONT
6
6th 3742 [20]
Langley Racing 64 Ford NSV
22
RSD
12
1978 RSD
15
NSV
14
RSD
26
8th 3769 [21]
Donlavey Racing 90 Mercury DAY
5
TAL
15
DAY
36
POC
7
TAL
9
MCH
6
DAR
25
CLT
10
ATL
12
ONT
9
Ford RCH
5
CAR
28
ATL
6
BRI
19
DAR
35
NWS
8
MAR
27
DOV
9
CLT
19
MCH
7
NSV
8
BRI
4
RCH
5
DOV
6
MAR
13
NWS
9
CAR
5
1979 Nelson Malloch Racing 05 Olds RSD
33
DAY
27
CAR
3
RCH
28
ATL
10
NWS
13
BRI
22
DAR
9
MAR
21
TAL
37
CLT
39
TWS RSD DAY
9
TAL
11
BRI
20
NWS
25
22nd 2622 [22]
Chevy NSV
27
DOV MCH
10
NSV
19
POC
20
MCH
29
DAR
7
RCH DOV
26
MAR
15
CLT
8
CAR
15
ATL
40
ONT
7
1980 7 RSD
22
RCH
29
CAR
16
ATL
5
BRI
27
DAR
5
NWS
27
MAR
26
NSV
30
DOV
17
CLT
15
TWS
27
RSD
31
MCH
33
DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI 27th 1698 [23]
Olds DAY
36
TAL
9
Billy Matthews Racing 41 Chevy DAR
10
RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT
10
CAR
31
ATL ONT
1981 Buick RSD DAY
16
RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR
15
MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT
36
TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT 61st - [24]
Bobby Hawkins Racing 13 Ford CAR
21
ATL
13
RSD
1982 DAY
38
RCH BRI
28
ATL
34
CAR DAR
32
NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT POC RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS 48th 347 [25]
Steve Harrison 8 Pontiac CLT
24
MAR CAR ATL RSD
1983 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford DAY
5
RCH
13
CAR
8
ATL
6
DAR
19
NWS
20
MAR
8
TAL
14
NSV
25
DOV
15
BRI
21
CLT
37
RSD
5
POC
28
MCH
12
DAY
32
NSV
14
POC
15
TAL
7
MCH
21
BRI
21
DAR
31
RCH
13
DOV
32
MAR
16
NWS
15
CLT
37
CAR
18
ATL
31
RSD
34
14th 3230 [26]
1984 DAY
26
RCH
19
CAR
23*
ATL
14
BRI
30
NWS
11
DAR
31
MAR
11
TAL
30
NSV
9
DOV
35
CLT
13
RSD
12
POC
20
MCH
11
DAY
38
NSV
27
POC
11
TAL
35
MCH
18
BRI
3
DAR
6
RCH
10
DOV
7
MAR
11
CLT
13
NWS
11
CAR
30
ATL
17
RSD
24
15th 3265 [27]
1985 Petty Enterprises 1 Ford DAY
22
RCH CAR
20
ATL
38
BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV 53rd 249 [28]
Hendrick Motorsports Chevy CLT
10
RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1969 Brooks Racing Plymouth 33 32
1970 13 19
1971 Mario Rossi Dodge 8 7
1973 Owens Racing Dodge 9 3
1974 Brooks Racing Dodge 23 9
1975 Donlavey Racing Ford 5 22
1976 9 41
1977 15 5
1978 Mercury 32 5
1979 Nelson Malloch Racing Oldsmobile 8 27
1980 41 36
1981 Billy Matthews Racing Buick 38 16
1982 Bobby Hawkins Racing Ford 15 38
1983 Donlavey Racing Ford 10 5
1984 12 26
1985 Petty Enterprises Ford 11 22

24 Hours of Le Mans results

24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1976 Donlavey Racing Dick Hutcherson
Marcel Mignot
Ford Torino NASCAR 104 DNF DNF
1982 Stratagraph Inc. Hershel McGriff
Tom Williams
Chevrolet Camaro IMSA
GTO
141 NC NC

References

  1. "Dick Brooks in the NASCAR Grand National Series". driveraverages.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  2. "NASCAR Race Results at Middle Georgia - Nov 8, 1970". driveraverages.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  3. "Dick Brooks in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series". driveraverages.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  4. "TOP 10 SHOCKERS AT TALLADEGA". nascar.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  5. "Dick Brooks in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series". driveraverages.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  6. "1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Series". driveraverages.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  7. "Dick Brooks in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series". driveraverages.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  8. "Dick Brooks". legendsofnascar.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  9. "1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  10. "Dick Brooks in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series". driveraverages.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  11. "Dick Brooks". legendsofnascar.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  12. "Dick Brooks – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  13. "Dick Brooks – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  14. "Dick Brooks – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  15. "Dick Brooks – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  16. "Dick Brooks – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  17. "Dick Brooks – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  18. "Dick Brooks – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  19. "Dick Brooks – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  20. "Dick Brooks – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  21. "Dick Brooks – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  22. "Dick Brooks – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  23. "Dick Brooks – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  24. "Dick Brooks – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  25. "Dick Brooks – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  26. "Dick Brooks – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  27. "Dick Brooks – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  28. "Dick Brooks – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
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