Ernie Derr

After watching brother-in-law Don White race in the late 1940s, Derr began his racing career in 1950.^[4] Earning his reputation mainly on half-mile dirt tracks, Derr won his first International Motor Contest Association championship in 1953, and won four consecutive IMCA championships between 1959 and 1962.^[4] He also ran one NASCAR Grand National Series race in 1953, at Davenport, and dabbled in the ARCA Racing Series (then the Midwest Association for Race Cars), notching six wins in 1955 and eleven career wins.^[5] He picked up factory backing from General Motors in 1963, but switched to Chrysler support the following year and stuck with them through 1970.^[4] Derr also claimed seven consecutive IMCA championships from 1965 to 1971.^[4] During his later years, Derr transitioned more to USAC Stock Car racing.^[6]

He retired from racing after the 1977 season, running his last race at Knoxville Raceway. He said that his only regret in racing was not running more NASCAR races during the sport's formative years.^[4] At the end of his career, Derr had 328 IMCA wins, a record that stood until 2005.^[7]

Derr served in the 6th Armored Division during World War II.^[8] Before racing full-time, Derr was an automotive parts worker.^[9] After retiring from racing, Derr became a property manager in Keokuk, Iowa.^[4] His son Mike was also an IMCA racer,^[5] and at the time of his death, Ernie had been married to his wife Marianna for 67 years.^[7] He died at his home on January 8, 2014.^[10]