Mark Beard (racing driver)

Mark William Beard (October 27, 1948 – January 31, 2021) was an American stock car racing team owner and driver who owned the NASCAR Cup Series team Beard Motorsports. As a driver, he competed in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and NASCAR Busch Series.

Mark Beard
Born
Mark William Beard

(1948-10-27)October 27, 1948
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
DiedJanuary 31, 2021(2021-01-31) (aged 72)
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
NationalityAmerican
Alma materCentral Michigan University, Northwood College
OccupationOwner, Beard Motorsports
Years active2009–2021
EmployerBeard Motorsports (owner)
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
2 races run over 3 years
Best finish83rd (1986)
First race1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race1986 Winn-Dixie 300 (Charlotte)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0

Racing career

Beard began his career in kart racing at the age of eight before moving to drag racing as a teenager; although his father established communications with Ford Motor Company about a potential drag racing sponsorship, he sold his Lincoln–Mercury dealership and the deal fell through.[1] In 1972, he made his oval track racing debut at Mount Pleasant Speedway and other local tracks. One of his car owners was two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Gordon Johncock, also a Michigan native who got his racing oil from the Beard family.[2]

He later competed in ARCA and United States Auto Club (USAC) events. In 1982, he ran the inaugural NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race at Daytona International Speedway; racing for his own team and receiving guidance from eventual series champion Jack Ingram, he finished 18th. However, a lack of sponsorship prevented him from attempting further races, with his second and final start in the series coming in 1986 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (finishing 26th after suffering tire problems throughout the day), and he instead focused on ARCA.[2] He also fielded cars in the early 1990s for drivers like future SS-Green Light Racing team owner Bobby Dotter.[3]

Beard attempted to qualify for the 1994 and 1995 Busch races at Michigan International Speedway, but failed in both.[4] The 1995 attempt, which was mainly attributed to his car using an older engine, would be his final entry into a NASCAR race.[2]

Team owner

In 2009, Beard founded Beard Motorsports for Clay Rogers in the ARCA Re/Max Series.[5] Five years later, the team attempted two NASCAR Cup Series races with Rogers, but failed to qualify for both of them. In 2017, Brendan Gaughan was hired as the team's only driver to drive for the team,[6] and they managed to lock themselves for the 2017 Daytona 500 as an open, non-chartered team.[7]

After Gaughan's retirement in 2020, Noah Gragson was hired to drive the No. 62 in the 2021 Daytona 500. The team continued with plans to run the race following Beard's death two weeks prior.[8]

Personal life

Beard was born on October 27, 1948 to Leo and Glenna Beard. He worked with his father in the oil industry at Hub Oil and Beard Oil and Supply, and formed M&L Petroleum Inc. in 1984; he founded Beard Oil Distributing in 2005. Beard graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1966 and attended Central Michigan University and Northwood College.[9]

He and his wife Linda had two children Amie and Mark.[9] Mark Beard II worked for M&L Petroleum and also competed for Beard Motorsports in the ASA Late Model Series.[5]

Beard died at his home on January 31, 2021.[9]

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.)

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 30 31 NBSC Pts Ref
1982 Beard Racing 16 Pontiac DAY
16		 RCH BRI MAR DAR HCY SBO CRW RCH LGY DOV HCY CLT ASH HCY SBO CAR CRW SBO HCY LGY IRP BRI HCY RCH MAR CLT HCY MAR 138th 109 [10]
1986 Beard Racing 38 Pontiac DAY CAR HCY MAR BRI DAR SBO LGY JFC DOV CLT
26		 SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO RAL OXF SBO HCY LGY ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR ROU CLT CAR MAR 83rd 85 [11]
1994 Beard Racing Olds DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR HCY BRI ROU NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW SBO TAL HCY IRP MCH
DNQ		 BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT MAR CAR NA – [4]
1995 DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH
DNQ		 BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM N/A – [2]

References
  1. Saraceno, Jon Mark (February 25, 2017). "Brendan Gaughan fulfills team owner's lifelong dream with Daytona 500 start". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  2. Doerr, Erich T. (February 14, 2010). "Mark Beard was part of NASCAR history at Daytona". Booth Newspapers. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  3. Nguyen, Justin (February 2, 2021). "Beard Motorsports owner Mark Beard dies at 72, team to continue with Daytona 500 plans". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  4. "Detroit Gasket 200". Oshkosh Northwestern. August 19, 1994. Retrieved February 1, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Dickman, Jeremy H. (July 17, 2010). "Beard II making the most of racing team". The Morning Sun. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  6. Kantowski, Ron (January 12, 2017). "Las Vegan Brendan Gaughan will attempt to race in Daytona 500". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  7. Staff report (February 19, 2017). "Chase Elliott Captures Back-to-Back Daytona Poles". NASCAR. Turner Sports Network. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  8. "Mark Beard Sr., No. 62 team owner, passes away". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  9. "Mark William Beard". Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  10. "Mark Beard – 1982 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  11. "Mark Beard – 1986 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
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