Jody Ridley
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Chatsworth, Georgia, U.S.
1987, 1988, 1990 All Pro Super Series Champion
1985 Snowball Derby Winner
1993 Myrtle Beach 400 Winner
1991, 1992, 1993 Slim Jim All Pro Series Most Popular Driver
Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Inductee (2007)
| Jody Ridley | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | May 19, 1942 Chatsworth, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||
| Achievements | 1991, 1992, 1993 Slim Jim All Pro Series Champion 1987, 1988, 1990 All Pro Super Series Champion 1985 Snowball Derby Winner 1993 Myrtle Beach 400 Winner | ||||||
| Awards | 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year 1991, 1992, 1993 Slim Jim All Pro Series Most Popular Driver Georgia Racing Hall of Fame Inductee (2007) | ||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 140 races run over 11 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 5th (1981) | ||||||
| First race | 1973 Dixie 500 (Atlanta) | ||||||
| Last race | 1989 Daytona 500 (Daytona) | ||||||
| First win | 1981 Mason-Dixon 500 (Dover) | ||||||
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| NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series career | |||||||
| 3 races run over 2 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 75th (1982) | ||||||
| First race | 1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona) | ||||||
| Last race | 1985 Winn-Dixie 300 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| |||||||
| Statistics up to date as of March 25, 2013. | |||||||
Murphy Jody Ridley[1] (born May 19, 1942) is an American former NASCAR driver. He won the 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award and one race at Dover International Speedway the next year, the only Cup victory for Donlavey Racing.
Ridley's career statistics include 140 career starts, one win, seven top-fives, 56 top-tens, and two top-ten points finishes (fifth in 1981, and seventh in 1980).
Ridley now resides in Chatsworth, Georgia. He was inducted in the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.[2]
Born in Chatsworth, Georgia, and raised in Dalton, Ridley was a fan of cars from a young age. In 1967, he purchased Joe Lee Johnson's 1963 Ford Mustang at the age of 25. At that time, he had only been racing and affiliated with NASCAR for a year, joining the professional leagues in 1966.[3] 1967 would be the beginning of Ridley's career, participating in many NASCAR races throughout Georgia, such as in Lakewood, Trenton, and Byron.[4][5]