Tim Richmond (June 7, 1955 – August 13, 1989) was an American race car driver from Ashland, Ohio. He competed in IndyCar racing before transferring to NASCAR's Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series). Richmond was one of the first drivers to change from open wheel racing to NASCAR stock cars full-time, which has since become an industry trend. He won the 1980 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award and had 13 victories during eight NASCAR seasons.Richmond achieved his top NASCAR season in 1986 when he finished third in points. He won seven races that season, more than any other driver on the tour. When he missed the season-opening Daytona 500 in February 1987, media reported that he had pneumonia. The infection most likely resulted from his compromised immune system, which was weakened by AIDS. Despite the state of his health, Richmond competed in eight races in 1987, winning two events and one pole position before his final race in August of that year. He attempted a comeback in 1988 before NASCAR banned him for testing positive for a banned substance; after NASCAR insisted on access to his entire medical record before reinstating him, Richmond withdrew from racing. NASCAR later stated their original test was inaccurate.Richmond grew up in a wealthy family and lived a freewheeling lifestyle, earning him the nickname "Hollywood". In describing Richmond's influence in racing, Charlotte Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler said: "We've never had a race driver like Tim in stock car racing. He was almost a James Dean-like character." When Richmond was cast for a bit part in the 1983 movie Stroker Ace, "He fell right in with the group working on the film," said director Hal Needham. Cole Trickle, the main character in the movie Days of Thunder, played by Tom Cruise, was loosely based on Richmond and his interaction with Harry Hyde and Rick Hendrick.
Out of all of the NASCAR tracks he loved, his favorites were Riverside International Raceway in Moreno Valley, California (closed in 1989 for a shopping mall), and Pocono Raceway in Pocono, Pennsylvania.
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Last Nascar win: Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California, June 21, 1987
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First Nascar win: Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California, June 13, 1982
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Before Tim Richmond died, his last NASCAR race win was at the now-defunct Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California in 1986.
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Tim Richmond was one of NASCAR's most flamboyant drivers. The 1980 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year had converted to stock cars by 1981 and was a winner by 1982. From 1983-1985 Tim drove the #27 Old Milwaukee Pontiac for NHRA Funny Car Champion Raymond Beadle and his Blue Max Team. In 1986 Tim left Beadle for Rick Hendrick's #25 Folger's Chevy (crew chiefed by the legendary Harry Hyde) and over the final 17 races won 7 races and 7 poles to finish a strong 3rd in points. During the off season doctors had mistaken Tim's AIDS for pneumonia and while recovering missed the first 3 months of the 1987 season. Like something out of Hollywood in his return Tim won his first 2 races back only to be dragged down by the virus in August and having to leave the sport. One of NASCAR's greatest talents, AIDS claimed Tim in August of 1989.
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