Jim Delaney (racing driver)
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December 18, 1928
| Jim Delaney | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | James W. Delaney December 18, 1928 Hope, New Jersey, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | April 5, 1991 (aged 62) Supply, North Carolina, U.S. | ||||||
| Modified racing career | |||||||
| Debut season | 1949 | ||||||
| Finished last season | 1961 | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| 1952,1958,1959 Langhorne National Open | |||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 11 races run over 4 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 47th (1950)[1] | ||||||
| First race | 1948 Langhorne, Pennsylvania | ||||||
| Last race | 1957 Daytona Beach, Florida | ||||||
| |||||||
James W. Delaney (December 18, 1928 – April 5, 1991) was an American stock car racing driver and crew chief. He was a pioneer of the sport, competing in the inaugural year of the Strictly Stock division, which is now the NASCAR Cup Series.[1][2]
Delaney got behind the wheel for the first time in 1948, at age 19, racing on the New Jersey and Pennsylvania short tracks at Dover, Hinchcliffe Stadium and Nazareth Speedway in a stock car he built himself.[3] He made 11 appearances in the NASCAR Grand National Series, with a best finish of fifth. He spent the majority of his career racing in the Sportsman and Modified divisions, competing at the renowned tracks of the northeast, including Flemington Speedway and Wall Stadium in New Jersey; Langhorne Speedway, Pennsylvania; and Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York.[2][4][5]
Delaney gained recognition as a respected fabricator and mechanic and, after he retired from driving, became a mainstay in the NASCAR garage area. Delaney served stints as crew chief for Tiny Lund, Billy Wade and NASCAR Hall of Fame champion Joe Weatherly.[6][7][8]
Delaney was inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 2015.[9]