The Story of Buddy Arrington (1938-2022)

From a lead-footed teenager racing his friend’s hot rods to a veteran owner-driver in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Buddy Arrington only wanted to run Chrysler products – even when his was the only Dodge Mirada or Chrysler Imperial in the field. Through lean times and brutal injuries across more than 500 starts, the one-time moonshiner from Martinsville and his iconic #67 became perhaps the fastest independent in the sport and a fan favorite. This is his story.

SPECIAL THANKS
*Bryan Hallman at the BRH Racing Archive, including photos by Jerry Haislip and Bill Niven.
*Be sure to check out Kevin Schwarze’s five-part Joey Arrington interview on “Super Cars Today TV” at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZwz09PjXZQ. Plus his interview with ARCA driver Brad Smith here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuxmng1SIA

CHAPTERS
0:00 - The Hot Rodder
4:10 - Injuries
11:36 - Last of the Moonshiners
14:37 - The Pettys
18:49 - Magnum
23:26 - A Consistent 1982
28:33 - The Decline
38:18 - Retirement

MUSIC
“Come With Us” – Nat Keefe & Hot Buttered Rum (YouTube Music Library)

VIDEO CREDITS
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjZQnMo0uMCFs4Z_8JC-hfocb-ixZLvJ2

ARTICLES
*Beattle, Leal. “Racing full time makes points for Arrington,” The Journal Herald, August 27, 1982.
*Bruce, Kenny. “Sponsors turn NASCAR’s wheels,” Kingsport Times-News, June 7, 1987.
*Buck, Johnny. “HEMI Driver Buddy Arrington makes RRML Hall of Fame,” ShopHemi.com, October 23, 2009.
*Cunningham, George. “All Night Job Pays Off,” Charlotte Observer, April 22, 1964.
*England, Terry. “Buddy’s the last of his kind,” The Windsor Star, October 7, 1983.
*England, Terry. “Chrysler picks its racing spot,” The Windsor Star, October 7, 1983.
*Hester, Wayne. “Dean, Buddy must listen from hospital,” The Anniston Star, August 11, 1974.
*Higgins, Tom. “Driver Arrington’s condition is ‘good,’” Charlotte Observer, July 6, 1969.
*Higgins, Tom. “Arrington: Driver of the year?” Charlotte Observer, July 11, 1982.
*Higgins, Tom. “Richmond streaks to Michigan pole; Baldwin critically injured,” Charlotte Observer, June 15, 1986.
*Higgins, Tom. “Arrington announces retirement,” Charlotte Observer, December 5, 1986.
*Isaacson, Melissa. “Financial mismatches of racing,” Orlando Sentinel, February 16, 1986.
*Jordan, Jack. “Rain fails to dampen Tim Richmond’s parade,” The Scranton Times, June 9, 1986.
*Kindred, Dave. “For Buddy Arrington, racing isn’t a way of life – it’s life itself,” The Greenville News via The Washington Post, March 15, 1981.
*Martin, Gerald. “Independent driver experiences tough life,” The News and Observer, February 22, 1970.
*Martin, Gerald. “Today, Arrington’s only business is racing,” The News and Observer, October 7, 1973.
*Martin, Gerald. “Arrington pays painful price for daring love affair,” The News and Observer, March 16, 1975.
*Martin, Gerald. “Arrington roaring again, forgetting pains of past,” The News and Observer, May 7, 1978.
*Martin, Gerald. “Drivers skid on hard times,” The News and Observer, September 6, 1981.
*Martin, Gerald. “Arrington’s victory chase pushes his limits,” The News and Observer, July 18, 1982.
*McDermott, Don. “Was Petty ‘Lucky’ to win Delaware 500 Title?” The News Journal, September 15, 1975.
*Parrish, Will. “In the pits: Service manager gives time, talents to help NASCAR driver,” Charlotte Observer, February 16, 1986.
*Phelps, John. “Petty victor at Martinsville, Waltrip still a bridesmaid,” Daily Press, April 28, 1975.
*Saraceno, Jon. “Arrington a racing anomaly,” Florida Today, February 18, 1984
*Schmitz, Brian. “Winning’s out of the question for low-budget racers,” Orlando Sentinel, July 1, 1982.
*Smith, George. “Arrington and ‘the law,’” The Anniston Star, April 30, 1981.
*Strong, T. “Buddy Arrington: The Mopar Marathon Man,” Mopar Enthusiast, Year Unknown.
*Vehorn, Frank. “First number,” The Greenville News, May 2, 1976.
*Vincent, Charlie. “An instant on the MIS track takes charge of driver’s life,” Detroit Free Press, June 15, 1986.
*Wepfer, Bert. “Independent. . .the call finally came for Arrington,” Clarion-Ledger, February 15, 1981.
*Wepfer, Bert. “NASCAR circuit means life on the road for driver’s wife, too,” Clarion-Ledger, February 15, 1981.
*Young, Rick. “Alabama Gang: 1-2-3 at Talladega?” Alabama Journal, July 27, 1979.

OTHER SOURCES
*Buddy Arrington’s Obituary (NorrisFuneral.com)
*Racing-reference.info