Tommy Ellis (born August 8, 1947) is an American former stock car racing driver who competed in the 1970s and 1980s. Often referred to as "Terrible" Tommy Ellis for his rough tactics, he won the last national late model sportsman championship in 1981, the final year before the format changed from "points chasing" late model sportsman racing at various short tracks across the country (now known as the Whelen All-American Series) to the current touring format, currently known as the Xfinity Series, the next year. He won the successor series in 1988.

Tommy Ellis
Ellis' 1984 car at Pocono Raceway
Born (1947-08-08) August 8, 1947 (age 76)
Richmond, Virginia
Achievements1981 NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Series Champion
1988 NASCAR Busch Series champion
NASCAR Cup Series career
78 races run over 12 years
Best finish23rd (1986)
First race1976 Delaware 500 (Dover)
Last race1991 Budweiser 500 (Dover)
WinsTop tensPoles
060
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
235 races run over 14 years
Best finish1st (1988)
First race1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race1995 Detroit Gasket 200 (Michigan)
First win1982 Gene Lovelace 200 (Langley Field)
Last win1990 Budweiser 300 (Loudon)
WinsTop tensPoles
2210828
Statistics current as of March 4, 2012.

Racing career edit

Ellis's success (12 poles and 8 wins) in the first two seasons of the Busch Series earned him a shot at a Winston Cup ride. Driving for most of three seasons in the Chevrolet camp, his best finish was an eighth at Dover in 1986. He was also considered an excellent sub-driver in the Cup Series, filling in for Neil Bonnett in 1989 and replacing a suspended Geoff Bodine at Junior Johnson Motorsports two years later.

After his release from Freedlander Racing in 1986, Ellis returned to the Busch Series with J&J Racing. Between 1988 and 1990 Ellis won nine poles and seven races. He was the Busch Series champion in 1988 in an unsponsored Buick. In 1991, he competed in the Winston at Charlotte Motor Speedway, replacing Bodine.

His Busch Series career totals are 28 poles (second all-time behind Mark Martin) and 22 wins (tied for thirteenth all-time with Sam Ard).

Ellis's last Busch Series start was in 1995.

Ellis was a stunt driver for the film Days of Thunder along with Bobby Hamilton and drove race cars numbered 51 and 18 in selected races.

Legal troubles edit

In 2010, Ellis and his wife Brenda were sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal tax-evasion charges. They had underreported the income generated by their car-wash business by over $300,000 between 2003 and 2007.[1]

Motorsports career results edit

NASCAR edit

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

Winston Cup Series edit

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031NWCCPtsRef
1976Champion Racing10FordRSDDAYCARRCHBRIATLNWSDARMARTALNSVDOVCLTRSDMCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHBRIDARRCHDOV
21
MARNWSCLTCARATLONT92nd100[2]
1981Ellis Racing55ChevyRSDDAYRCHCARATLBRINWSDARMARTALNSVDOVCLTTWSRSDMCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHBRIDARRCH
26
DOVMAR
30
NWSCLT
4
CARATL
33
RSD62nd392[3]
1982Gordon Racing24BuickDAY
DNQ
75th260[4]
Ellis Racing55ChevyRCH
11
BRIATLCARDARNWSMARTALNSVDOVCLTPOCRSDMCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHBRIDARRCH
11
DOVNWSCLTMARCARATLRSD
1983Terry Motorsports32BuickDAYRCHCARATLDARNWSMARTALNSVDOVBRICLT
15
RSDPOCMCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHBRIDARRCHDOVMARNWSCLTCARATLRSDNA-[5]
1984Morgan–McClure Motorsports4ChevyDAYRCHCARATLBRI
28
NWS
29
DAR
23
MAR
29
TAL
13
NSV
14
DOVCLT
14
RSDPOCMCH
38
DAY
14
NSV
11
POC
34
TAL
9
MCH
36
BRI
28
DAR
19
RCH
15
DOV
34
MAR
17
CLT
33
NWS
14
CARATLRSD31st1738[6]
1985Freedlander Motorsports18ChevyDAYRCHCARATLBRIDARNWSMARTALDOVCLT
20
RSDPOCMCH
21
DAY
17
POC
36
TAL
30
MCHBRI
30
DAR
33
RCH
10
DOV
26
MAR
30
NWS
11
CLT
40
CAR
30
ATL
36
RSD34th1100[7]
1986DAY
19
RCH
24
CAR
14
ATL
13
BRI
11
DAR
29
NWSMAR
24
TAL
32
DOV
9
CLT
35
RSDPOC
15
MCH
14
DAY
38
POC
9
TAL
34
GLNMCH
39
BRI
12
DARRCH
21
DOV
8
MAR
26
NWS
13
CLT
31
CAR
35
ATL
12
RSD23rd2393[8]
1987DAY
DNQ
CAR
38
RCH
27
ATL
17
DAR
40
NWSBRIMARTALCLTDOVPOCRSDMCHDAYPOCTALGLNMCHBRIDARRCHDOVMARNWSCLTCARRSDATL58th286[9]
1988Donlavey Racing90FordDAYRCHCARATLDARBRINWSMARTALCLTDOVRSDPOCMCHDAYPOCTALGLNMCHBRI
DNQ
DARRCHDOVMAR91st37[10]
Winkle Motorsports97BuickCLT
30
NWSCARPHOATL
42
1989Wood Brothers Racing1FordDAYCARATLRCHDARBRINWSMARTALCLTDOVSONPOCMCHDAYPOCTALGLNMCHBRI
DNQ
DARRCHDOV66th115[11]
21MAR
29
CLT
18
NWS
16
CAR
Hendrick Motorsports18ChevyPHO
DNQ
ATL
1990Speed Racing83OldsDAYRCH
DNQ
CARATLDARBRINWSMARTALCLTDOVSONPOCMCHDAYPOCTALGLNMCHBRIDARRCHDOV
31
MARNWSCLTCARPHOATL106th-[12]
1991Junior Johnson & Associates97FordDAYRCHCARATLDARBRINWSMARTALCLT
16
DOV
21
SONPOCMCHDAYPOCTALGLNMCHBRIDARRCHDOVMARNWSCLTCARPHOATL70th100[13]
Daytona 500 edit
YearTeamManufacturerStartFinish
1982Gordon RacingBuickDNQ
1986Freelander MotorsportsChevy2119
1987DNQ

Busch Series edit

NASCAR Busch Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435NBSCPtsRef
1982Ellis Racing12PontiacDAY
22
RCH
25
MAR
33
DAR
15
HCY
20
SBO
14
CRW
11
RCH
3
LGY
16
DOV
4
HCY
10
CLT
4
ASH
2
HCY
2
SBO
16
CAR
29
CRW
7
SBO
3
HCY
2
LGY
1
IRP
2
HCY
7
RCH
15
MAR
4
CLT
38
HCY
2
MAR
25
3rd3873[14]
36BRI
3
BRI
4
198312DAY
7
RCH
16
CAR
11
HCY
1*
MAR
9
NWS
13
SBO
1
GPS
24
LGY
19
DOV
8
BRI
3
CLT
34
SBO
1*
HCY
1*
ROU
2
SBO
1*
ROU
16
CRW
20
ROU
6*
SBO
1*
HCY
3
LGY
3
IRP
5
GPS
14
BRI
3
HCY
4*
DAR
7
RCH
2*
NWS
1
SBO
4
MAR
25
ROU
16*
CLT
12
HCY
19
MAR
31
4th4929[15]
1984OldsDAY
35
24th1440[16]
PontiacRCH
15
CAR
27
HCY
6
MAR
29
DAR
15
ROU
2*
NSVLGYMLWDOVCLTSBO
23
HCYROUSBO
25
ROU
12*
HCYIRPLGYSBO
3
RCH
1*
NWSCLT
26
HCYCARMAR
36BRI
18
DAR
198512OldsDAY
10
CAR
29
DAR
22
DOV
2
CLT
9
CLT
26
HCYCAR16th2065[17]
PontiacHCY
23
BRI
15
MAR
3
SBO
25
LGY
1*
SBO
1*
HCYROUIRPSBOLGY
1*
HCYMLWBRIDARRCH
1*
NWSROUMAR
1*
1986DAY
31
CARHCYMARBRIDARSBOLGYJFCDOVCLTSBOHCYROUIRPSBORALOXFSBOHCYLGYROUBRIDARRCH
26
DOVMARROUCLTCARMAR67th155[18]
1987Falk Racing04PontiacDAYHCYMAR
30
DARBRILGYSBO
1
CLTROU
21
JFCOXFRCH
32
30th1362[19]
J&J Racing58BuickDOV
22
DAR
11
DOV
37
CLT
19
CAR
22
ChevyIRP
27
PontiacSBO
6
HCYRALLGY
26
ROU
20
BRIJFCMAR
28
MAR
32
198899BuickDAY
18
HCY
4
CAR
6
MAR
22
DAR
14
BRI
2
LNG
1*
NZH
10
SBO
3
NSV
20
CLT
12
DOV
6
ROU
6
LAN
17
LVL
1
MYB
25*
OXF
7
SBO
2
HCY
3
LNG
1*
IRP
3
ROU
7
BRI
24
DAR
14
RCH
4
DOV
2
MAR
15*
CLT
6
CAR
9
MAR
3
1st4281[20]
1989DAY
39
CAR
3
MAR
1
HCY
2
DAR
16
BRI
29
NZH
2
SBO
1*
LAN
6
NSV
7
CLT
34
DOV
5
ROU
16
LVL
21
VOL
2
MYB
9
SBO
2
HCY
1*
DUB
12
IRP
15
ROU
3
BRI
8
DAR
6
RCH
2
DOV
12
MAR
29
CLT
16
CAR
10
MAR
10
3rd3945[21]
1990DAY
35
RCH
10
CAR
6
MAR
9*
HCY
2
DAR
18
BRI
21
LAN
3
SBO
15
NZH
20
HCY
14
CLT
5
DOV
33
ROU
15
VOL
14
MYB
7*
OXF
15
NHA
1*
SBO
7
DUB
18
IRP
16
ROU
9
BRI
9
DAR
11
RCH
15
DOV
27
MAR
27
CLT
28
NHA
5
CAR
8
MAR
12
6th3829[22]
1991Speedway Motorsports56BuickDAY
13
RCH
30
CAR
16
MAR
23
VOL
29
HCY
DNQ
DAR
31
BRILANSBONZHCLTDOVROUHCYMYBGLNOXF33rd1253[23]
Ellis Racing12BuickNHA
43
SBODUBIRPROUBRIDARRCH
18
DOV
7
CLT
4
NHA
13
CAR
40
ChevyMAR
26
199214DAY
DNQ
CARRCH
20
ATLMAR
13
DARBRIHCYLANDUBNZHCLTNHA
33
TALIRPROUMCH43rd841[24]
BuickDOV
22
ROU
23OldsMYB
29
GLNVOL
12ChevyNHA
30
BRIDARRCH
35
MAR
30
CAR
BuickDOV
23
CLT
77ChevyHCY
28
1993Key Motorsports05ChevyDAYCARRCHDARBRIHCYROUMARNZHCLTDOVMYBGLNMLWTALIRPMCHNHABRIDARRCHDOVROUCLTMAR
DNQ
CAR
DNQ
HCY
5
ATL76th155[25]
1994DAYCARRCHATLMAR
10
DARHCY
30
BRIROU
6
NHANZHCLT
16
DOV
41
MYB
34
GLNMLWSBO
28
TALHCYIRPMCHBRIDARRCH
38
DOV
37
CLTMARCAR46th753[26]
1995Bobby Jones Racing50FordDAYCARRCHATLNSVDARBRIHCYNHANZHCLTDOVMYBGLNMLWTALSBOIRP
17
MCH
34
BRIDARRCHDOVCLTCARHOM77th173[27]

ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series edit

(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
YearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819APSSCPtsRef
1988Hendrick Motorsports18ChevyDAYATLTALFRSPCSROCPOCWINKILACSSLMPOCTALDELFRSISFDSFSLMATL
2
102nd-[28]

References edit

  1. ^ Hallman, Randy. "Former NASCAR driver Tommy Ellis pleads guilty to tax-evasion charge". AutoWeek. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  3. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1982 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  5. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1983 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  6. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  7. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  9. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  10. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  11. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  12. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  13. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  14. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1982 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  15. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1983 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  16. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1984 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  17. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1985 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  18. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1986 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  19. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1987 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  20. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1988 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  21. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1989 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  22. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1990 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  23. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1991 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  24. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1992 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  25. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1993 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  26. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1994 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  27. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1995 NASCAR Busch Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  28. ^ "Tommy Ellis – 1988 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 18, 2023.

External links edit

Preceded by NASCAR Busch Series Champion
1988
Succeeded by