Jim Paschal

News Obituary Article

Early NASCAR star Paschal dies

By RICK MINTER

In the slam-bang early days of NASCAR, one driver stood out for his easy-going demeanor. Jim Paschal, who died of cancer Monday at 77 and will be buried today near Jackson Creek, N.C., won 25 times in the division now known as Nextel Cup. Two of those triumphs were in one of the circuit's showcase events, the World 600 at Charlotte.

Rex White of Fayetteville, who raced against Paschal for years, said Paschal's peaceful ways helped him win an endurance event like the 600.

"Jim never got involved in beating and banging," White said. "He was a nice guy on the race track, easygoing and smart. That's why he was so good in the 600. He knew how to pace himself and be there at the end."

The 1967 World 600 is considered by many to be Paschal's greatest performance. He had built a three-lap lead when he lost control of his Plymouth and hit the wall on Lap 339 of 400. His crew patched up his car, but he was back on the same lap as his challengers. Despite the damage, he was able to hold off two hard-chargers, David Pearson and Bobby Allison, to get the victory.

In 1949, Paschal drove in the first event in what has become the Cup series. His first Cup win was at Martinsville in 1953, and his final victory came at Montgomery, Ala., in June of '67, when at age 40 he beat his former teammate Richard Petty and Allison in a 100-mile race.

He's tied with former champion Joe Weatherly for 22nd on the all-time winner's list and was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 1977.

After his driving days ended in 1972, he owned a trucking firm.

He is survived by his wife, Becky, and a son, Alvin.

© 2004 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution