Itzhak Perlman Headlines Great Neck Park District’s Summer Concert Series
9 hours ago
United States Ernie Irvan is a respected former NASCAR driver, celebrated for his resilience and notable victories including the 1991 Daytona 500.
Just before his final years in NASCAR, Irvan briefly co-owned a NASCAR Truck Series team in partnership with Mark Simo and No Fear.
Ernie Irvan drove Kroger / Pepsi-sponsored Chevrolet cars for D.K. Ulrich's team in 1988.
Ernie Irvan's first Winston Cup start at Charlotte in October 1987 was sponsored by Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet.
Ernie Irvan drove for Morgan-McClure Motorsports' (MMM) No. 4 Kodak Oldsmobile and Chevrolet.
Ernie Irvan replaced Davey Allison as the driver of the No. 28 Texaco/Havoline Ford at Robert Yates Racing.
In 1998, Irvan joined MB2 Motorsports to drive the No. 36 Skittles Pontiac.
M&M Mars decided to emblazon the popular M&Ms characters on Ernie Irvan's car for MB2 Motorsports in 1999.
Ernie Irvan drove his own No. 84 Irvan-Simo Federated Auto Parts Pontiac in a practice session for the Busch Series race and also had a NASCAR Truck Series team with Boris Said sponsored by Federated Auto Parts.
Ernie Irvan was born on January 13, 1959, in Salinas, California. He began his racing career in karts at the age of nine, winning the California Championship at fifteen. By 1975, Irvan transitioned to stock cars at Stockton 99 Speedway, securing a victory in his first asphalt semi-main event. From 1975 to 1981, he consistently raced at Madera and Stockton, achieving numerous feature wins. In 1982, Irvan relocated to North Carolina to pursue opportunities in professional racing. He supported himself through various jobs, including welding at Charlotte Motor Speedway, while continuing to race in late model series at Concord Speedway, where he won nine races.
Irvan made his Winston Cup debut on September 13, 1987, at Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, driving a Chevrolet Monte Carlo prepared with Marc Reno. He quickly caught the attention of veteran owner D.K. Ulrich and made several additional starts, achieving an eighth-place finish at Charlotte. In 1988, he competed for NASCAR Rookie of the Year, finishing 26th in points. The 1990s marked a period of significant achievement for Irvan, joining Morgan-McClure Motorsports and securing his first Winston Cup pole position at Bristol. His first Winston Cup victory came on August 25, 1990, at the Busch 500 in Bristol. He concluded the 1990 season with three poles, one victory, six top-fives, and thirteen top-tens, finishing ninth in the final point standings.
In 1991, Irvan achieved a career highlight by winning the Daytona 500. Later that season, he secured another victory at Watkins Glen International Raceway. The same year, he earned his first Busch Grand National Series win at Rockingham. By 1993, Irvan had accumulated nine poles, seven wins, and 51 top-ten finishes with Morgan-McClure Motorsports. Following the death of Davey Allison, Irvan joined Robert Yates Racing, securing two victories in nine starts with the team. A serious crash in 1994 at Michigan International Speedway resulted in a severe head injury, from which he made a recovery. He returned to racing in 1995 and continued to compete until his retirement in 1999, concluding his Winston Cup driving career with fifteen victories, 22 poles, 68 top-fives, and 124 top-tens.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
