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Tommy Ellis

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American racing driver NASCAR driver
Tommy Ellis
Ellis' 1984 car at Pocono Raceway
Born (1947-08-08) August 8, 1947 (age 77)
Richmond, Virginia
Achievements1981 NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Series Champion
1988 NASCAR Busch Series champion
NASCAR Cup Series career
78 races run over 12 years
Best finish23rd (1986)
First race1976 Delaware 500 (Dover)
Last race1991 Budweiser 500 (Dover)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 6 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
235 races run over 14 years
Best finish1st (1988)
First race1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race1995 Detroit Gasket 200 (Michigan)
First win1982 Gene Lovelace 200 (Langley Field)
Last win1990 Budweiser 300 (Loudon)
Wins Top tens Poles
22 108 28
Statistics current as of March 4, 2012.

Tommy Ellis (born August 8, 1947) is an American former stock car racing driver who competed in the 1970s and 1980s. Often referred to as "Terrible" Tommy Ellis for his rough tactics, he won the last national late model sportsman championship in 1981, the final year before the format changed from "points chasing" late model sportsman racing at various short tracks across the country (now known as the Whelen All-American Series) to the current touring format, currently known as the Xfinity Series, the next year. He won the successor series in 1988.

Racing career

Ellis's success (12 poles and 8 wins) in the first two seasons of the Busch Series earned him a shot at a Winston Cup ride. Driving for most of three seasons in the Chevrolet camp, his best finish was an eighth at Dover in 1986. He was also considered an excellent sub-driver in the Cup Series, filling in for Neil Bonnett in 1989 and replacing a suspended Geoff Bodine at Junior Johnson Motorsports two years later.

After his release from Freedlander Racing in 1986, Ellis returned to the Busch Series with J&J Racing. Between 1988 and 1990 Ellis won nine poles and seven races. He was the Busch Series champion in 1988 in an unsponsored Buick. In 1991, he competed in the Winston at Charlotte Motor Speedway, replacing Bodine.

His Busch Series career totals are 28 poles (second all-time behind Mark Martin) and 22 wins (tied for thirteenth all-time with Sam Ard).

Ellis's last Busch Series start was in 1995.

Ellis was a stunt driver for the film Days of Thunder along with Bobby Hamilton and drove race cars numbered 51 and 18 in selected races.

Legal troubles

In 2010, Ellis and his wife Brenda were sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal tax-evasion charges. They had underreported the income generated by their car-wash business by over $300,000 between 2003 and 2007.

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
1976 Champion Racing 10 Ford RSD DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV
21 		MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 92nd 100
1981 Ellis Racing 55 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH
26 		DOV MAR
30 		NWS CLT
4 		CAR ATL
33 		RSD 62nd 392
1982 Gordon Racing 24 Buick DAY
DNQ 		75th 260
Ellis Racing 55 Chevy RCH
11 		BRI ATL CAR DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT POC RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH
11 		DOV NWS CLT MAR CAR ATL RSD
1983 Terry Motorsports 32 Buick DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV BRI CLT
15 		RSD POC MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD NA -
1984 Morgan–McClure Motorsports 4 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI
28 		NWS
29 		DAR
23 		MAR
29 		TAL
13 		NSV
14 		DOV CLT
14 		RSD POC MCH
38 		DAY
14 		NSV
11 		POC
34 		TAL
9 		MCH
36 		BRI
28 		DAR
19 		RCH
15 		DOV
34 		MAR
17 		CLT
33 		NWS
14 		CAR ATL RSD 31st 1738
1985 Freedlander Motorsports 18 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT
20 		RSD POC MCH
21 		DAY
17 		POC
36 		TAL
30 		MCH BRI
30 		DAR
33 		RCH
10 		DOV
26 		MAR
30 		NWS
11 		CLT
40 		CAR
30 		ATL
36 		RSD 34th 1100
1986 DAY
19 		RCH
24 		CAR
14 		ATL
13 		BRI
11 		DAR
29 		NWS MAR
24 		TAL
32 		DOV
9 		CLT
35 		RSD POC
15 		MCH
14 		DAY
38 		POC
9 		TAL
34 		GLN MCH
39 		BRI
12 		DAR RCH
21 		DOV
8 		MAR
26 		NWS
13 		CLT
31 		CAR
35 		ATL
12 		RSD 23rd 2393
1987 DAY
DNQ 		CAR
38 		RCH
27 		ATL
17 		DAR
40 		NWS BRI MAR TAL CLT DOV POC RSD MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR RSD ATL 58th 286
1988 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI
DNQ 		DAR RCH DOV MAR 91st 37
Winkle Motorsports 97 Buick CLT
30 		NWS CAR PHO ATL
42
1989 Wood Brothers Racing 1 Ford DAY CAR ATL RCH DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI
DNQ 		DAR RCH DOV 66th 115
21 MAR
29 		CLT
18 		NWS
16 		CAR
Hendrick Motorsports 18 Chevy PHO
DNQ 		ATL
1990 Speed Racing 83 Olds DAY RCH
DNQ 		CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV
31 		MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 106th -
1991 Junior Johnson & Associates 97 Ford DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT
16 		DOV
21 		SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 70th 100
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1982 Gordon Racing Buick DNQ
1986 Freelander Motorsports Chevy 21 19
1987 DNQ

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 32 33 34 35 NBSC Pts Ref
1982 Ellis Racing 12 Pontiac DAY
22 		RCH
25 		MAR
33 		DAR
15 		HCY
20 		SBO
14 		CRW
11 		RCH
3 		LGY
16 		DOV
4 		HCY
10 		CLT
4 		ASH
2 		HCY
2 		SBO
16 		CAR
29 		CRW
7 		SBO
3 		HCY
2 		LGY
1 		IRP
2 		HCY
7 		RCH
15 		MAR
4 		CLT
38 		HCY
2 		MAR
25 		3rd 3873
36 BRI
3 		BRI
4
1983 12 DAY
7 		RCH
16 		CAR
11 		HCY
1* 		MAR
9 		NWS
13 		SBO
1 		GPS
24 		LGY
19 		DOV
8 		BRI
3 		CLT
34 		SBO
1* 		HCY
1* 		ROU
2 		SBO
1* 		ROU
16 		CRW
20 		ROU
6* 		SBO
1* 		HCY
3 		LGY
3 		IRP
5 		GPS
14 		BRI
3 		HCY
4* 		DAR
7 		RCH
2* 		NWS
1 		SBO
4 		MAR
25 		ROU
16* 		CLT
12 		HCY
19 		MAR
31 		4th 4929
1984 Olds DAY
35 		24th 1440
Pontiac RCH
15 		CAR
27 		HCY
6 		MAR
29 		DAR
15 		ROU
2* 		NSV LGY MLW DOV CLT SBO
23 		HCY ROU SBO
25 		ROU
12* 		HCY IRP LGY SBO
3 		RCH
1* 		NWS CLT
26 		HCY CAR MAR
36 BRI
18 		DAR
1985 12 Olds DAY
10 		CAR
29 		DAR
22 		DOV
2 		CLT
9 		CLT
26 		HCY CAR 16th 2065
Pontiac HCY
23 		BRI
15 		MAR
3 		SBO
25 		LGY
1* 		SBO
1* 		HCY ROU IRP SBO LGY
1* 		HCY MLW BRI DAR RCH
1* 		NWS ROU MAR
1*
1986 DAY
31 		CAR HCY MAR BRI DAR SBO LGY JFC DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO RAL OXF SBO HCY LGY ROU BRI DAR RCH
26 		DOV MAR ROU CLT CAR MAR 67th 155
1987 Falk Racing 04 Pontiac DAY HCY MAR
30 		DAR BRI LGY SBO
1 		CLT ROU
21 		JFC OXF RCH
32 		30th 1362
J&J Racing 58 Buick DOV
22 		DAR
11 		DOV
37 		CLT
19 		CAR
22
Chevy IRP
27
Pontiac SBO
6 		HCY RAL LGY
26 		ROU
20 		BRI JFC MAR
28 		MAR
32
1988 99 Buick DAY
18 		HCY
4 		CAR
6 		MAR
22 		DAR
14 		BRI
2 		LNG
1* 		NZH
10 		SBO
3 		NSV
20 		CLT
12 		DOV
6 		ROU
6 		LAN
17 		LVL
1 		MYB
25* 		OXF
7 		SBO
2 		HCY
3 		LNG
1* 		IRP
3 		ROU
7 		BRI
24 		DAR
14 		RCH
4 		DOV
2 		MAR
15* 		CLT
6 		CAR
9 		MAR
3 		1st 4281
1989 DAY
39 		CAR
3 		MAR
1 		HCY
2 		DAR
16 		BRI
29 		NZH
2 		SBO
1* 		LAN
6 		NSV
7 		CLT
34 		DOV
5 		ROU
16 		LVL
21 		VOL
2 		MYB
9 		SBO
2 		HCY
1* 		DUB
12 		IRP
15 		ROU
3 		BRI
8 		DAR
6 		RCH
2 		DOV
12 		MAR
29 		CLT
16 		CAR
10 		MAR
10 		3rd 3945
1990 DAY
35 		RCH
10 		CAR
6 		MAR
9* 		HCY
2 		DAR
18 		BRI
21 		LAN
3 		SBO
15 		NZH
20 		HCY
14 		CLT
5 		DOV
33 		ROU
15 		VOL
14 		MYB
7* 		OXF
15 		NHA
1* 		SBO
7 		DUB
18 		IRP
16 		ROU
9 		BRI
9 		DAR
11 		RCH
15 		DOV
27 		MAR
27 		CLT
28 		NHA
5 		CAR
8 		MAR
12 		6th 3829
1991 Speedway Motorsports 56 Buick DAY
13 		RCH
30 		CAR
16 		MAR
23 		VOL
29 		HCY
DNQ 		DAR
31 		BRI LAN SBO NZH CLT DOV ROU HCY MYB GLN OXF 33rd 1253
Ellis Racing 12 Buick NHA
43 		SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH
18 		DOV
7 		CLT
4 		NHA
13 		CAR
40
Chevy MAR
26
1992 14 DAY
DNQ 		CAR RCH
20 		ATL MAR
13 		DAR BRI HCY LAN DUB NZH CLT NHA
33 		TAL IRP ROU MCH 43rd 841
Buick DOV
22 		ROU
23 Olds MYB
29 		GLN VOL
12 Chevy NHA
30 		BRI DAR RCH
35 		MAR
30 		CAR
Buick DOV
23 		CLT
77 Chevy HCY
28
1993 Key Motorsports 05 Chevy DAY CAR RCH DAR BRI HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL IRP MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU CLT MAR
DNQ 		CAR
DNQ 		HCY
5 		ATL 76th 155
1994 DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR
10 		DAR HCY
30 		BRI ROU
6 		NHA NZH CLT
16 		DOV
41 		MYB
34 		GLN MLW SBO
28 		TAL HCY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH
38 		DOV
37 		CLT MAR CAR 46th 753
1995 Bobby Jones Racing 50 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP
17 		MCH
34 		BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM 77th 173

ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series

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

ARCA Permatex SuperCar 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 APSSC Pts Ref
1988 Hendrick Motorsports 18 Chevy DAY ATL TAL FRS PCS ROC POC WIN KIL ACS SLM POC TAL DEL FRS ISF DSF SLM ATL
2 		102nd -

References

  1. Hallman, Randy. "Former NASCAR driver Tommy Ellis pleads guilty to tax-evasion charge". AutoWeek. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  2. "Tommy Ellis – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  3. "Tommy Ellis – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  4. "Tommy Ellis – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  5. "Tommy Ellis – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  6. "Tommy Ellis – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  7. "Tommy Ellis – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  8. "Tommy Ellis – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  9. "Tommy Ellis – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  10. "Tommy Ellis – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  11. "Tommy Ellis – 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  12. "Tommy Ellis – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  13. "Tommy Ellis – 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  14. "Tommy Ellis – 1982 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  15. "Tommy Ellis – 1983 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  16. "Tommy Ellis – 1984 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  17. "Tommy Ellis – 1985 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  18. "Tommy Ellis – 1986 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  19. "Tommy Ellis – 1987 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  20. "Tommy Ellis – 1988 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  21. "Tommy Ellis – 1989 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  22. "Tommy Ellis – 1990 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  23. "Tommy Ellis – 1991 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  24. "Tommy Ellis – 1992 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  25. "Tommy Ellis – 1993 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  26. "Tommy Ellis – 1994 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  27. "Tommy Ellis – 1995 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  28. "Tommy Ellis – 1988 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

External links

Preceded byLarry Pearson NASCAR Busch Series Champion
1988 		Succeeded byRob Moroso
NASCAR Xfinity Series Drivers' Champions
   

1982  J. Ingram
1983  S. Ard
1984  S. Ard
1985  J. Ingram
1986  L. Pearson
1987  L. Pearson
1988  T. Ellis

1989  R. Moroso
1990  C. Bown
1991  B. Labonte
1992  J. Nemechek
1993  S. Grissom
1994  D. Green
1995  J. Benson Jr.

1996  R. LaJoie
1997  R. LaJoie
1998  D. Earnhardt Jr.
1999  D. Earnhardt Jr.
2000  J. Green
2001  K. Harvick
2002  G. Biffle

2003  B. Vickers
2004  M. Truex Jr.
2005  M. Truex Jr.
2006  K. Harvick
2007  C. Edwards
2008  C. Bowyer
2009  Ky. Busch

2010  B. Keselowski
2011  R. Stenhouse Jr.
2012  R. Stenhouse Jr.
2013  A. Dillon
2014  C. Elliott
2015  C. Buescher
2016  D. Suárez

2017  W. Byron
2018  T. Reddick
2019  T. Reddick
2020  A. Cindric
2021  D. Hemric
2022  T. Gibbs
2023  C. Custer

2024  J. Allgaier

Junior Johnson & Associates
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