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Tim Richmond was born June 7, 1955 in Ashland Ohio and passed away on August 13, 1989 at the age of 34 in West Palm Beach Fla. Tim started his racing in Sprint Cars before moving to Nascar in 1980 at Pocono driving for D. K. Ulrick and finished 12th and also ran in the 1980 Indy 500 and finished 9th and named Rookie of the year. Tim grew up in a wealthy family and had a very expensive flair for food, drink and with this lifestyle he very quickly became the Playboy of
NASCAR which had NASCAR Public Relations Department working overtime on many occasions.
In 1982 he switched to owner J. D. Stacy and in the May 82 Charlotte race drove the #2 Clyde Turkle’s Chicken Pit Special but finished 40th after a crash. If that sounds familiar you have seen the movie Stocker Ace. In 1983 to 1985 Tim drove from Raymond Beadle Blue Max Racing in the #27 Old Milwaukee car. In 1986 he signed with Rick
Hendrick and drove the #25 Flogers car.
During his 1986 season became noticeably ill and check into a clinic. After testing it was discovered he contracted Aids which was kept secret and which at the time little was know about the disease but Tim worked hard to regain his strength and in 1987 return to win 2 consecutive races Pocono and Riverside but his health again deteriorated and only ran 6 more races before
NASCAR car told him to stop. In 1988 Tim tried one final time to race in Ken Ragan’s Ford in the Busch Clash but with
NASCAR not knowing much about Aids ordered the normal physical and was the first driver to undergo a drug test which he tested positive for banned substances and suspended indefinitely. Tim demanded another test saying he had never taken and banned substances which he did pass and later
NASCAR admitted the only substances found were Sudafed and Advil. They did lift Tim’s ban but refused to allow him to drive until all medical records were given to
NASCAR. That is when the other drivers became aware of Tim’s illness and he file a lawsuit against
NASCAR for defamation of character which was later withdrawn and Tim disclosed his illness to his fans and fellow driver to this day it has been released how he contracted HIV.
To this day if you put Tim Richmond in the search of Nascar.com only one paragraph and no picture is displayed to reflect Tim’s 7 year career in Winston Cup where he had 185 starts, 13 wins and 14 poles.
RIP Tim! We may not have approved of your lifestyle but you were one hell of a driver.
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