NASCAR Hall of Fame car owner Glen Wood died January 18 in Stuart, Virginia at the age of 93. While an official cause of death as not revealed, the team announced that Wood had been in declining health recently.
A former driver, Wood founded Wood Brothers Racing with his brother Len in 1950. Beginning the team with a car they bought for $50, the pioneering brothers have built the longest running team in NASCAR and have helped to create the choreography seen during pit stops. Their over the wall speed led the brothers to pit road at the 1965 Indianapolis 500 and Victory Lane.
Winning a total of 99 races, through the years the team have employed numerous drivers including David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Curtis Turner, A.J. Foyt, Trevor Bayne, Marvin Panch, Fireball Roberts, Dan Gurney, Tiny Lund, Parnelli Jones, Junior Johnson, Fred Lorenzen, Bill Elliot and current driver Paul Menard.
Wood first caught the racing bug in 1947 after watching the races on the beaches of Daytona; a tradition he continued for 71 years. Wood stopped racing in 1964 but remained with the team to help run the operation.
Before turning to racing, Wood worked at a saw mill. His accomplishments include four race wins, a North Carolina Sportsman champion, NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver in 1959, and is a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Glen Wood was born July 18, 1925 in Stuart, Virginia – small town in western Virginia near the North Carolina border.
Wood’s survivors include his brother and fellow Wood Brothers Racing owner Len, wife Bernece and son Eddie.
feature photo from Wood Brothers Racing Facebook page