ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Jack Ingram, a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2014, has died at the age of 84.
“There is no better way to describe Jack Ingram than ‘Iron Man.’ Jack was a fixture at short tracks across the Southeast most days of the week, racing anywhere and everywhere,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France. “He dominated the Late Model Sportsman division like few others. He set the bar for excellence in the Xfinity Series as its Most Popular Driver in 1982 and champion in 1985. Jack was an old school racer and his work on his own car helped propel him to victory lane hundreds of times. Of our current 58 NASCAR Hall of Fame members, he is one of only six that was elected based on his career and contributions in the grassroots level of our sport. On behalf of the France family and NASCAR, I offer my condolences to the friends and family of NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Ingram.”
Ingram was an instrumental part of the early years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series. When the series was known as the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman division, Ingram earned three consecutive championships from 1972 to ’74. He earned 286 victories in Late Model Sportsman competition in addition to a dozen track championships.
When NASCAR rebranded the Late Model Sportsman division as the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series in 1982, Ingram was the inaugural series champion. He bested Sam Ard for the championship, claiming the crown by 49 points.
He added a second title in the 1985 season, defeating Jimmy Hensley by 29 points in the standings. He likely would have won a third title in 1986 were it not for a two-race suspension for rough driving following an incident at New Asheville Speedway.
His career in what is considered the modern era of the NASCAR Xfinity Series included 31 victories, all of which occurred after his 45th birthday. His last victory came on March 15, 1987, at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
Ingram’s 31 victories stood as the all-time Xfinity Series record until Mark Martin broke it in 1997. Ingram currently ranks sixth on the all-time Xfinity Series win list behind Kyle Busch, Martin, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards.
“Jack’s contributions, accomplishments and tenacity in NASCAR are legendary,” said NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley. “A dominant short track racer and five-time series champion are among the reasons this 2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee was the first inductee whose career was predominately in what is now NASCAR’s Xfinity Series. He literally stockpiled wins by the bucket with a record 31 wins in the NASCAR Busch (now Xfinity) Series, a record that stood until 1997 as well as 286 wins in the predecessor division, the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division, along with 12 track championships.
“Known unilaterally as ‘The Iron Man’ for his relentless, hard driving style to win, along with the incredible schedule he kept crisscrossing the country racing wherever there was a checkered flag to be captured. Ingram owned, built and worked on the cars himself and although his talent could have allowed him to compete in the premier series of NASCAR, he chose to stay in the series he knew and loved best. His two NASCAR Busch Series championships both came after the age of 45 – in 1982 and 1985, further solidifying this Iron Man’s legacy as a tenacious competitor and future Hall of Famer.”
Ingram also made 19 NASCAR Cup Series starts from 1965 to 1981, earning one top-five finish and four top-10 finishes. He earned a runner-up result in Cup Series competition at Hickory Motor Speedway in 1967.
In addition to being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2014, Ingram was also enshrined in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007 and the National Motorsports Press Ass’n Hall of Fame in 1997.
“NASCAR has lost a true racer’s racer and the NASCAR Hall of Fame team and I have lost a dedicated supporter and cherished friend,” Kelley said. “Jack’s legacy and incredible accomplishments and contributions in NASCAR will live in our minds, our hearts and our archives at the NASCAR Hall of Fame forever.”