The Story of Neil “Soapy” Castles (1934-2022)

The NASCAR in which Neil “Soapy” Castles raced was far different from today. In an age where factory teams dominated the sport, secondhand equipment was good enough to compete for race wins – and even championships. An inventor and part-time stuntman who once doubled for Elvis, Soapy was perhaps the most clutch qualifier of his era, dominating the consolation races that once rounded out Cup Series fields. And like many independent drivers who followed, Soapy earned an opportunity in top-flight equipment – one which ended much too soon.

CHAPTERS
0:00 - Soapy
2:47 - Getting Into Racing
5:31 - Stunt Work
8:08 - The Soapy Castles Benefit
13:41 - Ray Fox
18:02 - So Close
21:31 - The East Series
23:51 - The Reporter Incident
26:58 - Changing Times
29:52 - After Racing

SPECIAL THANKS
*Bryan Hallman at the BRH Racing Archives

MUSIC
"The Colonel" - Zachariah Hickman (YouTube Music Library)

VIDEOS USED
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjZQnMo0uMCHmSGRQByl2PmWN8dV-9ZQW

ARTICLES
Britt, Bloys. “Neil Castles finally to get big chance in Rebel 400,” Journal and Courier, May 9, 1969.
Brown, Jean Marie. “Paw Creek area’s cancer rate to be examined,” The Charlotte Observer, May 19, 1993.
DeAngelis, Mary Elizabeth. “Exxon ordered to pay for polluting property,” The Charlotte Observer, June 21, 1995.
Henderson, Bruce. “Paw Creek folks watching lawsuit,” The Charlotte Observer, June 7, 1995.
Higgins, Tom. “New device springs hook at a touch,” The Charlotte Observer, March 30, 1975.
Higgins, Tom. “Moody, Benfield team return to NASCAR,” The Charlotte Observer, August 8, 1985.
Holliman, Ray. “Castles makes living through anonymity,” Florida Today, July 2, 1972.
Howell, David. “Independent Neil Castles entered in Grand National,” The Greenville News, June 18, 1969.
Howell, David. “Neil Castles wins Greenville 200,” The Greenville News, April 2, 1972.
Howell, David. “’Soapy’ Castles: ‘I knew I could do it,’” The Greenville News, April 3, 1972.
Hunter, Jim. “One punch almost cost driver Castles 10-grand,” The Atlanta Constitution, August 13, 1972.
Krueger, John. “34 ‘Hot NASCAR stars seek Macon 300 victory,” The Macon Telegraph, June 1, 1969.
Martz, Ron. “. . .Neil the king of his own castle,” Florida Today, July 4, 1974.
Morris, Richard. “Robers Captures WNC 500 Sweepstakes,” Asheville Citizen-Times, August 18, 1958.
Myers, Bob. “Those independent drivers eat beans, race for love,” The Charlotte News, October 27, 1967.
Myers, Bob. “Complete Racer: Castles knows it all – almost,” The Charlotte News, April 4, 1969.
Myers, Bob. “Dream that came true,” The Charlotte News, April 30, 1969.
Myers, Bob. “Fox asks Chrysler to terminate pact,” The Charlotte News, May 24, 1969.
Myers, Bob. “Castles to make apology,” The Charlotte News, August 12, 1972.
Myers, Bob. “It’s ‘Black Cat Night’ at the fairgrounds races,” The Charlotte News, April 12, 1973.
Myers, Bob. “Reeves tunes for racing,” The Charlotte News, May 11, 1974.
Phillips, Benny. “Darlington rocks, rolls with population explosion,” The High Point Enterprise, August 31, 1969.
Robertson, Pat. “Three decades of racing,” The Columbia Record, August 30, 1978.
Terrell, Bob. “Rowdies turn saints,” Asheville Citizen-Times, May 30, 1965.
Terrell, Bob. “Soapy gets a ride,” Asheville Citizen-Times, May 4, 1969.

BOOKS
Castles, Neil and Perry Allen Wood. Neil “Soapy” Castles: Memoir of a Life in NASCAR and the Movies, McFarland Press, 2019.
Golenbock, Peter. American Zoom: Stock Car Racing - From the Dirt Tracks to Daytona, Macmillan General Reference, 1994.

WEBSITES
GrandNationalEast.com
IMDB
McMahan’s Funeral Home
Wikipedia