Travis Aaron Carter

Travis Aaron Carter, 75, of Denver, North Carolina, passed away from complications of leukemia on June 10, 2025.
Travis was born to the late Mary Ann and Eldridge Carter on November 21, 1949, in Moore County, North Carolina. As the tenth of eleven children, he grew up on a tobacco farm in Ellerbe, NC, within a large, close-knit family. From an early age, Travis learned the value of hard work and the importance of family bonds. Alongside his siblings, he spent countless hours in the fields, planting, tending, and harvesting tobacco. These formative years were filled with laughter, mischief, and a deep sense of camaraderie that defined his character.
At 21, Travis transitioned from farm life to the fast-paced world of NASCAR, where he made a name for himself as a crew chief and team owner. His career spanned over three decades, marked by significant achievements and contributions to the sport. His racing journey began with L.G. DeWitt's team, where he became the crew chief for Benny Parsons. Together, they clinched the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship in 1973 and won the Daytona 500 in 1975. Travis often remarked that he was the only person in NASCAR to move from south to north when he next relocated to Reading, PA, to work for Roger Penske with driver Bobby Allison.
He went on to work as crew chief for the legendary car owner Junior Johnson with driver Cale Yarborough, winning the NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship. Later, he helped Hal Needham and Burt Reynolds form the Skoal Bandit team alongside driver Harry Gant. In 1990, Travis founded Travis Carter Enterprises to take on the challenge of being a team owner-a longtime goal of his. After a brief hiatus, he returned to ownership to field the Smokin' Joe's car and later partnered with Carl Haas of the CART/IndyCar world to form Haas/Carter Motorsports. He fielded multiple drivers, including Rick Mast, Butch Miller, Jimmy Spencer, Hut Strickland, Todd Bodine, Joe Nemechek, and Darrell Waltrip. Travis expanded his reach internationally by partnering with Japanese driver Hideo Fukuyama, facilitating his move to the U.S. to pursue a NASCAR career. Travis officially retired in 2004 but continued to assist his son Matt with his racing endeavors until 2009. In 2016, he was honored with the prestigious Smokey Yunick Award at Charlotte Motor Speedway, recognizing his significant contributions to the motorsports industry.
Travis's legacy extends beyond his professional achievements. He was a devoted husband to Linda, to whom he was married for just shy of 51 years. From the early days of their relationship, they shared a true partnership filled with mutual respect, support and love. Travis was also a loving father to Matthew ("Matt") and Kimberly ("Kim"). He embodied what it means to be a loyal husband and father-providing tirelessly for his family and always being present to offer guidance, support, and love. In his later years, Travis found unparalleled joy in his role as a grandfather to Levi, Charlie, Emma Pearl, and Carter. Linda, Matt, Kim, and the grandkids are forever grateful for the sacrifices he made and the unwavering presence he maintained in their lives.
Travis is survived by his beloved wife Linda; son Matt Carter (Amelia) of Mooresville; daughter Kim Post (Chas) of Sanford, NC; his cherished grandchildren Levi, Charlie, Emma Pearl, and Carter; as well as siblings Diane Kennedy, Dwight Carter, and Willa Spivey. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws, all of whom he loved dearly.
In addition to his parents, Travis was preceded in death by his siblings Frances Carter, Rebecca "Becky" Frazier, Eldridge M. Carter Jr., Hill Carter, Larry Carter, Tom Carter, and Morris Carter.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriners Children's Hospital or Victory Junction.
A service to celebrate his life will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, June 25, at James Funeral Home, 10520 Arahova Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
Services will be livestreamed at https://www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com/obituaries/travis-carter-3
James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the family.