G. C. Spencer

Grover Clifton "G. C." Spencer[1] (July 9, 1925[2] – September 20, 2007) was a NASCAR driver who competed in 415 Grand National/Winston Cup Series races from 1958 to 1977. Despite never winning a race, he had 55 top-5 finishes and 138 top tens, including 7 second-place finishes.

G. C. Spencer
BornGrover Clifton Spencer
(1925-07-09)July 9, 1925
Owensboro, Kentucky
DiedSeptember 20, 2007(2007-09-20) (aged 82)
Johnson City, Tennessee
NASCAR Cup Series career
415 races run over 20 years
Best finish4th (1965)
First race1958 Southern 500 (Darlington)
Last race1977 Dixie 500 (Atlanta)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 138 1

Born in Owensboro, Kentucky,[3] he was a dominant short-track racer in the 1940s and 1950s. He served in World War II with the U.S. Navy.[3]

Spencer drove for his own independent team for most of his career, and was one of the most successful independents of the day. His best season came in 1965, when he finished fourth in points with 14 top-5 finishes and 25 top-10s and his only career pole. Although he drove GM and Chrysler cars for most of his career, he drove Fords in 1965, where he found most of his success.

He sold his team and equipment in 1983,[4] and his No. 49 became the No. 4 of Morgan-McClure Motorsports.[3] Spencer acted as the team manager to the team for its first three years.[3]

He died in 2007 at the age of 82.[3]

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 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 NGNC Pts Ref
1958 Buck Baker Racing 86 Chevy FAY DAB CON FAY WIL HBO FAY CLB PIF ATL CLT MAR ODS OBS GPS GBF STR NWS BGS TRN RSD CLB NBS REF LIN HCY AWS RSP MCC SLS TOR BUF MCF BEL BRR CLB NSV AWS BGS MBS DAR
16		 CLT BIR CSF GAF RCH HBO SAS MAR NWS ATL 36th 1040 [5]
1959 GC Spencer Racing 44 Chevy FAY DAY DAY HBO CON ATL WIL BGS CLB NWS
15		 REF 13th 4260 [6]
34 HCY
14		 MAR
17		 TRN CLT
12		 NSV
11		 ASP PIF
4		 GPS
7		 ATL
22		 CLB
17		 WIL
14		 RCH BGS
8		 AWS
19		 DAY
34		 HEI CLT
27		 MBS
12		 CLT
28		 NSV
12		 AWS
12		 BGS
11		 GPS
15		 CLB
7		 DAR
23		 HCY
14		 RCH
14		 CSF HBO
8		 MAR
34		 AWS NWS
16		 CON
30
1960 CLT
11		 CLB
15		 DAY
14		 DAY DAY
31		 CLT NWS PHO 33rd 3986 [7]
Weldon Wagner 48 Chevy CLB
9		 MAR
13		 HCY
20		 WIL BGS GPS
21		 AWS
5		 DAR
15		 PIF
6		 HBO
18		 RCH HMS CLT
21		 BGS DAY HEI MAB MBS ATL BIR
6		 NSV
10		 AWS
17		 PIF
19		 CLB
26		 SBO
15		 BGS
17		 HCY
11		 CSF GSP
4		 HBO MAR
16		 NWS
17		 CLT
16		 RCH ATL
Spook Crawford 20 Ford DAR
22
1961 GC Spencer Racing 48 Chevy CLT JSP DAY DAY DAY PIF AWS HMS ATL GPS
4		 HBO
9		 BGS
10		 MAR
15		 NWS
18		 CLB
4		 HCY
4		 RCH
6		 MAR
13		 DAR
17		 CLT
10		 CLT RSD ASP CLT
31		 PIF
8		 BIR
9		 GPS
9		 BGS
8		 NOR HAS STR
7		 DAY ATL
9		 CLB
8		 MBS
16		 BRI
34		 NSV
8		 BGS
6		 AWS
27		 RCH SBO
19		 DAR HCY
6		 RCH
10		 CSF ATL
31		 MAR
11		 NWS
23		 CLT BRI
12		 GPS HBO 20th 9128 [8]
1962 CON
12		 AWS
22		 CON
7		 AWS
20		 SVH
12		 HBO
19		 RCH
8		 CLB
5		 NWS
11		 GPS
10		 MBS
17		 MAR
12		 BGS
9		 BRI
25		 RCH HCY
15		 CON
15		 PIF
4		 BGS
14		 AUG
5		 RCH
11		 SBO
19		 DAY CLB ASH GPS AUG SVH MBS BRI
32		 CHT
6		 NSV
11		 HUN
16		 AWS
22		 STR
10		 BGS
5		 PIF
5		 VAL
4		 DAR
28		 HCY
7		 RCH
14		 DTS AUG MAR
30		 NWS
19		 CLT
26		 ATL
16		 24th 9788 [9]
Matt DeMatthews 38 Ford DAY
21		 DAY DAY
45		 DAR
28
Ralph Smith 79 Chevy CLT
21		 ATL
26
1963 GC Spencer Racing 48 Chevy BIR GGS
21		 THS
18		 RSD 18th 13744 [10]
Fox Racing 03 Chevy DAY
11		 DAY DAY
32		 PIF AWS HBO ATL
DNQ		 HCY BRI AUG
8		 RCH
17		 GPS
3		 SBO
GC Spencer Racing BGS
16		 MAR CLB
22		 BGS
18		 ASH
18		 OBS BRR BRI
35		 GPS NSV
21		 CLB
5		 BGS
6		 ONA
6		 HCY
2		 RCH
4
58 NWS
24		 THS
7
Owens Racing 16 Dodge DAR
13		 ODS RCH
Stroppe Motorsports 25 Mercury CLT
9		 BIR ATL
13		 DAY
9		 MBS SVH DTS
Jack Smith 48 Plymouth AWS
21		 MAR
23		 DTS NWS THS CLT
7		 SBO
16		 HBO
17		 RSD
Robert Smith 75 Pontiac PIF
7
Jack Smith 47 Plymouth DAR
24
1964 Paul Clayton 75 Pontiac CON
20		 GPS
5		 ASH
8		 26th 10012 [11]
70 AUG
24
GC Spencer Racing 03 Chevy JSP
17		 SVH RSD DAY
Cliff Stewart 2 Pontiac DAY
16		 DAY
33		 RCH
GC Spencer Racing 49 Chevy BRI
30		 GPS BGS ATL
25		 AWS HBO PIF CLB NWS
12		 MAR
13		 SVH DAR
16		 LGY HCY SBO CLT
6		 ATL
35		 CON NSV
5		 CHT
5		 BIR VAL PIF DAY ODS OBS BRR ISP GLN LIN BRI NSV MBS AWS DTS ONA CLB BGS STR
Ford DAR
18		 HCY RCH ODS HBO MAR
12		 SVH NWS CLT
29		 HAR AUG JAC
3
1965 RSD DAY
20		 DAY DAY
10		 PIF
2		 AWS
4		 RCH
10		 HBO
17		 ATL
12		 GPS
16		 NWS
8		 MAR
12		 CLB
17		 BRI
22		 DAR
9		 LGY
21		 BGS
4		 HCY
3		 CLT
29		 CCF
7		 ASH
18		 HAR
2		 NSV
8		 BIR
3		 ATL
6		 GPS
18		 MBS
5		 VAL
3		 DAY
3		 ODS
7		 OBS
16		 ISP
13		 GLN
Wth		 BRI
19		 NSV
5		 AWS
14		 SMR
14		 PIF
5		 AUG
5		 CLB DTS BLV BGS DAR
20		 HCY
6		 LIN
2		 ODS
23		 RCH
23		 MAR
37		 NWS
9		 CLT
22		 CAR
4		 DTS 4th 24314 [12]
75 CCF
10
Cliff Stewart 2 Pontiac HBO
17
1966 GC Spencer Racing 49 Plymouth AUG RSD DAY DAY
9		 DAY
24		 CAR
44		 BRI
10		 ATL
32		 HCY CLB GPS BGS NWS
2		 MAR
5		 DAR
5		 LGY MGR MON RCH CLT
2		 DTS ASH PIF SMR AWS DAY
35		 ODS BRR OXF FON ISP BRI
22		 SMR NSV
13		 ATL
27		 CLB AWS
2		 BLV BGS DAR
10		 HCY RCH HBO MAR
40		 NWS
34		 CLT
34		 CAR
12		 19th 15028 [13]
Gray Racing 97 Ford BLV
5		 GPS
1967 GC Spencer Racing 49 Plymouth AUG RSD DAY
21		 DAY DAY
44		 AWS BRI
25		 GPS BGS ATL
10		 CLB HCY NWS
33		 MAR
24		 SVH RCH DAR
29		 BLV LGY CLT
35		 ASH MGR
12		 SMR
9		 BIR CAR
31		 GPS
10		 MGY DAY TRN
23		 OXF
28		 FDA
3		 ISP
3		 BRI
19		 SMR
25		 NSV
26		 HCY
25		 RCH BLV
20		 HBO
5		 MAR
7		 NWS
19		 AWS
13		 21st 15240 [14]
A.C. Rakestraw 0 Dodge ATL
8		 BGS CLB SVH
Petty Enterprises 42 Plymouth DAR
3		 CLT
5		 CAR
37
1968 GC Spencer Racing 49 Plymouth MGR
24		 MGY RSD DAY BRI
32		 RCH HCY
13		 GPS CLB NWS
22		 MAR
21		 AUG AWS
27		 DAR BLV LGY CLT
43		 ASH MGR SMR BIR CAR
33		 GPS DAY ISP
20		 OXF
18		 FDA
22		 TRN
8		 BRI
31		 SMR
7		 NSV
17		 ATL
10		 CLB BGS AWS
29		 SBO LGY DAR
38		 HCY RCH BLV
4		 HBO
10		 MAR
30		 NWS
11		 AUG CLT
35		 23rd 1401 [15]
Bobby Allison 2 Dodge ATL
28
Roy Trantham 84 Ford CAR
8		 JFC
28
1969 GC Spencer Racing 49 Plymouth MGR
21		 MGY RSD DAY DAY DAY CAR
28		 AUG BRI
28		 ATL
35		 CLB HCY
5		 GPS RCH NWS
28		 MAR
40		 AWS DAR
7		 BLV
6		 LGY
14		 CLT
4		 MGR SMR
13		 MCH KPT
5		 GPS NCF DAY DOV
16		 TPN
4		 TRN
33		 BLV
6		 BRI
18		 NSV SMR ATL
34		 MCH SBO BGS AWS
20		 DAR
11		 HCY
18		 RCH TAL CLB MAR
37		 NWS
9		 CLT
30		 SVH AUG CAR
24		 JFC MGR TWS 26th 1562 [16]
1970 RSD DAY DAY DAY RCH CAR
27		 SVH ATL
25		 BRI
14		 TAL NWS
30		 CLB DAR
25		 BLV LGY CLT
9		 SMR MAR
6		 MCH RSD HCY
4		 KPT GPS DAY AST
5		 TPN
21		 TRN
9		 BRI
4		 SMR
24		 NSV
36		 ATL
27		 CLB ONA MCH TAL BGS SBO DAR
9		 HCY
7		 RCH
7		 DOV NCF NWS
30		 CLT
11		 MAR MGR CAR LGY 16th 2079 [17]
1971 RSD DAY DAY DAY ONT RCH CAR
26		 HCY
7		 BRI
27		 ATL CLB GPS SMR
8		 NWS
9		 MAR DAR
6		 SBO TAL ASH KPT CLT
36		 DOV
5		 MCH RSD HOU GPS DAY BRI
24		 AST
24		 ISP
5		 TRN
31		 NSV ATL
27		 BGS ONA MCH TAL CLB HCY DAR
21		 MAR CLT DOV
34		 CAR
31		 34th 1008 [18]
Don Tarr 37 Dodge MGR
23		 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 GC Spencer Racing 49 Plymouth RSD DAY
DNQ		 RCH ONT CAR
30		 ATL
14		 BRI
9		 DAR
36		 NWS
DNQ		 MAR TAL CLT
39		 DOV MCH RSD TWS DAY BRI
28		 TRN ATL
40		 TAL MCH
38		 NSV DAR
19		 RCH DOV MAR NWS 43rd 1238.25 [19]
Altheide Racing 0 Dodge CLT
36		 CAR TWS
1973 GC Spencer Racing 49 Dodge RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR
15		 MAR TAL NSV CLT
29		 DOV
26		 TWS RSD MCH DAY
14		 BRI
29		 ATL
8		 TAL NSV DAR
39		 RCH DOV
30		 NWS MAR CLT
39		 CAR
41		 37th 1503.15 [20]
1974 RSD DAY
DNQ		 RCH CAR
39		 BRI ATL
30		 DAR
36		 NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV
31		 CLT
25		 RSD MCH DAY
30		 BRI NSV ATL
21		 POC TAL MCH DAR
6		 RCH DOV
37		 NWS MAR CLT CAR
35		 ONT 38th 96.8 [21]
1975 RSD DAY
9		 RCH CAR BRI ATL
36		 NWS DAR
24		 MAR TAL
22		 NSV DOV CLT
38		 RSD MCH DAY
39		 NSV POC TAL
49		 MCH DAR
31		 DOV NWS MAR CLT
32		 RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT 40th 634 [22]
1976 RSD DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL
25		 MCH
34		 BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT
17		 CAR ATL
35		 ONT 59th 319 [23]
1977 RSD DAY
DNQ		 RCH CAR ATL
21		 NWS DAR
8		 BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT
20		 RSD MCH DAY
14		 NSV POC TAL
31		 MCH BRI DAR
37		 RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT
18		 CAR ATL
25		 ONT 39th 785 [24]
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1960 GC Spencer Racing Chevrolet 27 31
1962 Matt DeMatthews Ford 48 45
1963 Fox Racing Chevrolet 21 32
1964 Cliff Stewart Pontiac 32 33
1965 GC Spencer Racing Ford 36 10
1966 Plymouth 18 24
1967 45 44
1972 GC Spencer Racing Plymouth DNQ
1974 GC Spencer Racing Dodge DNQ
1975 37 9
1977 GC Spencer Racing Dodge DNQ

References
  1. G.C. Spencer, 20-year NASCAR veteran, dies at 82 - USATODAY.com
  2. GC Spencer obituary. http://www.heartfeltconnections.net/memberEulogy.cfm?memberid=14734&sqry_rownum=1&CFTOKEN=39227896 Archived 2019-03-28 at the Wayback Machine .
  3. Bobo, Jeff. Kingsport Times News. "NASCAR pioneer G.C. Spencer dead at 82". 20 September 2007. http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9003095
  4. Birchfield, Jeff. Johnson City Press. "Early NASCAR racer, who started 415 Cup events, Spencer dies". http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Detail.php?Cat=SPORTS&ID=60267 Archived 2015-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "G.C. Spencer – 1958 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  6. "G.C. Spencer – 1959 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  7. "G.C. Spencer – 1960 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  8. "G.C. Spencer – 1961 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  9. "G.C. Spencer – 1962 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  10. "G.C. Spencer – 1963 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  11. "G.C. Spencer – 1964 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  12. "G.C. Spencer – 1965 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  13. "G.C. Spencer – 1966 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  14. "G.C. Spencer – 1967 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  15. "G.C. Spencer – 1968 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  16. "G.C. Spencer – 1969 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  17. "G.C. Spencer – 1970 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  18. "G.C. Spencer – 1971 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  19. "G.C. Spencer – 1972 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  20. "G.C. Spencer – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  21. "G.C. Spencer – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  22. "G.C. Spencer – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  23. "G.C. Spencer – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  24. "G.C. Spencer – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
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