Grant Adcox
# Grant Adcox

Herbert Grant Adcox (January 2, 1950 – November 19, 1989) was an American stockcar driver who died in a single-car accident in the 1989 Atlanta Journal 500 in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

## Career

Adcox's Winston Cup Series career started in 1974, running a handful of races for his father Herb Adcox with sponsorship backing from the family's Chevrolet dealership in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In that year's Winston 500 – considered one of the top events in the sport – held at the fastest track on the circuit, the Talladega Superspeedway, Adcox and his father qualified for the event. With a hundred laps in the books, a caution period came out as Donnie Allison's clutch burned out and David Sisco's motor blew up. Gary Bettenhausen, who had pitted a lap after the leaders, was up on jacks as Adcox came down for service. Adcox's car hit an oil and water patch and slammed straight into Bettenhausen's Matador, crushing catch-can man Don Miller between the cars. A young crew member of the Nord Krauskopf team who was nearby, Buddy Parrott, came rushing down to help, while Penske crew members John Woodward and John Watson were also injured. Miller was taken to a hospital and eventually had his right leg amputated. Learning of the extent of Miller's injuries, Adcox went into shock, and his car was withdrawn from the event.

Adcox continued to run sporadic Winston Cup races over the years. He qualified for the 1975 Talladega 500, but his crew chief Gene Lovell suffered a heart attack and died in their garage. Adcox's car was withdrawn, but he was able to find a substitute ride. However, the race was delayed for a week due to rain, and Adcox was again forced to withdraw. His spot on the grid was given to Tiny Lund, who had not raced in Winston Cup for several years. Lund subsequently died during the race in an accident on lap seven.

The 1978 Winston 500 at Talladega was Adcox's best result, as Krystal Restaurants came on board for a partial season with sponsorship money and in his family-owned Chevrolet, Adcox finished fifth in his career best Winston Cup finish.

Adcox's racing career was consistently underfunded. A year later, he was again sponsorless; he timed in fourth for the 1979 Firecracker 400 at Daytona International Speedway, but his car's raw speed did not pay off, and his motor expired early. He continued to run sporadic events over the years, but never again contended.

Adcox's primary claim to fame was for being a strong competitor in ARCA competition, a lesser stockcar series that uses older Winston Cup cars and more grassroots-based operations. He was especially dominant on the superspeedways; he won a record four of them in 1986 and had eight total superspeedway triumphs in his career, with five victories coming at Talladega. Dale Earnhardt, in an interview before a 1989 race at North Carolina Motor Speedway, remarked about how well Adcox had done in ARCA and said that if he had the monetary backing that other teams had, he might become a success in NASCAR.

For 1989, Adcox had signed up with Bumper to Bumper All Pro Autoparts and in a family-owned Chevrolet planned to run in a handful of Cup events.

## Death

In the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Adcox crashed heavily on lap 202 of the event and died of major chest and head injuries, also suffering a heart attack as result of the crash. Upon investigation, the severe impact was determined to have torn his improperly mounted racing seat away from its mount entirely, and this led to Adcox's death. It also led to new safety regulations on the way seats were mounted for the 1990 season.

ARCA's sportsmanship award, the H.G. Adcox Award, is named in Adcox's honor, and was awarded annually by his father Herb until his death in 2015. The Grant Adcox Memorial is also held annually in his honor at North Georgia Speedway and a subsequent event has been held also in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Adcox is interred at the Chattanooga Memorial Park in Chattanooga, TN.

## Motorsports career results

### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

**Winston Cup Series**

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results :

| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | NWCC | Pts | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1974 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Chevy | RSD | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR 18 | BRI | ATL 25 | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL 38 | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH | DAY | BRI | NSV | ATL | POC | TAL | MCH | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT 18 | CAR | ONT | | 54th | 16.6 | |
| 1975 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Chevy | RSD | DAY 37 | RCH | CAR | BRI | ATL 21 | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL 7 | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH 29 | DAY 36 | NSV 27 | POC | | MCH 14 | DAR 13 | DOV | NWS | MAR | CLT 16 | RCH | CAR | BRI 25 | ATL | ONT | | 33rd | 1020 | |
| 1975 | Tom Williams | 38 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TAL 34 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 33rd | 1020 |
| 1976 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Chevy | RSD | DAY DNQ | CAR 7 | RCH | BRI | ATL 12 | NWS | DAR 7 | MAR | TAL 19 | NSV | DOV | CLT 12 | RSD | MCH | DAY 30 | NSV | POC | TAL 18 | MCH | BRI | DAR 13 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT 14 | CAR 12 | ATL 20 | ONT | | 31st | 1163 | |
| 1977 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Chevy | RSD | DAY 34 | RCH | CAR | ATL | NWS | DAR | BRI | MAR | TAL 37 | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH | DAY 26 | NSV 25 | POC | TAL 15 | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL 22 | ONT | | 50th | 413 | |
| 1978 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Chevy | RSD | DAY 14 | RCH | CAR 30 | ATL 7 | BRI | DAR 25 | NWS | MAR | TAL 5 | DOV | CLT 11 | NSV 6 | RSD | MCH 22 | DAY 22 | NSV 11 | POC | TAL 22 | MCH | BRI | DAR 31 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT 33 | CAR | ATL 38 | ONT | | 29th | 1467 | |
| 1979 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Chevy | RSD | DAY 23 | CAR | RCH | ATL 28 | NWS | BRI | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 36th | 560 | |
| 1979 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 11 | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY 33 | NSV | POC | TAL 19 | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | | | | 36th | 560 |
| 1979 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ATL 27 | ONT | 36th | 560 | |
| 1983 | Adcox Racing | 29 | Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | BRI | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL 36 | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | | 95th | 55 | |
| 1984 | Adcox Racing | 29 | Chevy | DAY $QL^†$ | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL 40 | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | ATL | RSD | | 91st | 43 | |
| 1985 | Adcox Racing | 29 | Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY 22 | POC | TAL 40 | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | | | | 71st | 140 | |
| 1986 | Adcox Racing | 29 | Chevy | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY 26 | POC | TAL DNQ | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL DNQ | RSD | | | 101st | 85 | |
| 1987 | Adcox Racing | 24 | Chevy | DAY DNQ | CAR | RCH | ATL | DAR | NWS | BRI | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | POC | RSD | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | RSD | ATL | | | NA | - | |
| 1989 | Adcox Racing | 22 | Chevy | DAY | CAR | ATL | RCH | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL 24 | CLT | DOV | SON | POC | MCH | DAY 13 | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | PHO | | | | 51st | 282 | |
| 1989 | Adcox Racing | 22 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ATL 32 | | | | 51st | 282 |
| $^†$ - Qualified but replaced by Connie Saylor ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

**Winston Cup Series**

**Daytona 500**

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1974 | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1975 | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | 25 | 37 |
| 1976 | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1977 | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | 14 | 34 |
| 1978 | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | 13 | 14 |
| 1979 | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | 21 | 23 |
| 1984 | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | $QL^†$ | $QL^†$ |
| 1986 | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1987 | Adcox Racing | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |
| $^†$ - Qualified but replaced by Connie Saylor |||||

**Busch Series**

NASCAR Busch Series results :

| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | NBSC | Pts | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1989 | Adcox Racing | 21 | Olds | DAY | CAR | MAR | HCY | DAR | BRI | NZH | SBO | LAN | NSV | CLT | DOV | ROU | LVL | VOL | MYB | SBO | HCY | DUB | IRP | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | CAR 18 | MAR | 80th | 109 | |

### ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series results :

| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | APSC | Pts | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1975 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Chevy | SLM | DAY | SLM | TAL 24 | QCS | NSV | TOL | SLM | AVS | FMS | JEF | TOL | AND | | | | | | | NA | 0 | |
| 1976 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Chevy | SLM | DAY 27 | QCS | FMS | TAL 21 | QCS | AVS | SLM | FRS | TOL | NSV | TOL | SLM | | | | | | | NA | 0 | |
| 1977 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Chevy | TOL | DAY | QCS | BFS | NSV | FRS | TOL | SLM | AVS | TAL 4 | TOL | SND | SLM | | | | | | | NA | 0 | |
| 1978 | Adcox Racing | 41 | Chevy | DAY 18 | QCS | AVS | NSV | IMS | LOR | FRS | TAL 13 | FRS | CMS | JEF | | | | | | | | | NA | 0 | |
| 1985 | Adcox Racing | 29 | Chevy | ATL 2 | DAY | ATL | TAL 10 | ATL 3 | SSP | IRP | CSP | FRS | IRP | OEF | ISF | DSF | TOL | | | | | | 35th | - | |
| 1986 | Adcox Racing | 2 | Chevy | ATL 5 | DAY 1 | ATL 26* | TAL 1* | SIR | SSP | FRS | KIL | CSP | TAL 1 | BLN | ISF 11 | DSF | TOL 5 | MCS | ATL 1 | | | | 20th | - | |
| 1987 | Adcox Racing | 2 | Chevy | DAY 9 | ATL 4 | TAL 1* | DEL 2 | ACS 3 | TOL 13 | ROC 7 | POC 24 | FRS 23 | KIL 12 | | FRS 4 | ISF 21 | INF 6 | DSF 20 | SLM 18 | | | | 4th | 3450 | |
| 1987 | Adcox Racing | 2 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | TAL 1* | | | | | | ATL 20 | | | | 4th | 3450 |
| 1988 | Adcox Racing | 2 | Olds | DAY 21 | | TAL 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 3980 | |
| 1988 | Adcox Racing | 2 | Chevy | | ATL 1 | | FRS 2 | PCS 6 | ROC 10 | POC 5 | WIN 3 | KIL 3 | ACS 4 | SLM 24 | POC 6 | TAL 1* | DEL 15 | FRS 4 | ISF 36 | DSF 39 | SLM 14 | ATL 20 | 3rd | 3980 | |
| 1989 | Adcox Racing | 2 | Chevy | DAY 34 | ATL 7 | KIL | TAL 27 | FRS | POC | KIL | HAG | POC | TAL 28 | DEL 24 | FRS 1* | ISF | TOL 22 | DSF | SLM | | | | 26th | - | |
| 1989 | Adcox Racing | 2 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ATL 27 | | | | 26th | - |
| Results before 1985 may be incomplete. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
