Buddy Arrington

American racing driver (1938–2022)

Buddy Rogers Arrington (July 26, 1938 – August 2, 2022) was an American NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner.

Arrington has the second most starts without a win, and finished in the top 10 of NASCAR points twice; in 1978 (ninth) and 1982 (seventh). Arrington was loyal to his Mopar cars and engines, as he ran Chryslers and Dodges until 1985 (Chrysler stopped production of raceable body styles in 1983 and they became ineligible two years later) when the company stopped supporting them. His best career race and finish was at Talladega in 1979, where he had a powerful enough car to lead a few laps towards the end, and finished third. Arrington finished one lap ahead of Richard Petty, driving one of Petty's cast off Dodge Magnums that were left when Petty abandoned Mopar and began driving General Motors vehicles a year earlier, and several other top NASCAR drivers. Arrington almost always ran his own car, and his operation was a very money conscious effort. His pit crew were almost always unpaid volunteers, and he relied heavily (and almost exclusively) on used equipment with Petty's old Magnums being his primary cars. Since Arrington could not afford new cars, his team would have to reconfigure the Petty cars and re skin them into Dodge Miradas or Chrysler Imperials for a 1981 rule change. Arrington's two Chrysler Imperials were the last Chrysler products to run in the NASCAR Winston Cup series. He ran the car at first in two races in the 1981 season, and in more races (alternating with Dodge Miradas) until April 1985, when at that point the parts supply, even used, for Chrysler products (Chrysler factory support ended in late 1978) dried up. He sold one of the Imperials (purchased from Cecil Gordon in 1984) to Phil Goode in April 1985 (Goode raced it till the end of the 1985 season), and his other Imperial was given to the NASCAR Hall of Fame at Talladega, Alabama. Arrington was always a much liked man on the NASCAR circuit, and other teams and a small, but loyal fan club pitched in to help keep him racing. In 1985 the generosity of rising NASCAR star driver Bill Elliott (who sold Buddy his slightly used Ford Thunderbird race cars and parts on the cheap) kept Arrington driving until 1988. Buddy's son Joey Arrington (who at the age of 17 served on Buddy's pit crew, and built up his engines), now runs Arrington Manufacturing in Martinsville, Virginia. The company builds racing engines (mostly Dodges) for the Craftsman Truck Series, and test engines for Nextel Cup Nationwide series cars. Buddy Arrington was a regular visitor to his son's company, and often offered advice to young (mostly Dodge) drivers trying to make it in NASCAR racing. Arrington is a noted figure in NASCAR and Mopar history. He began professional NASCAR racing in December 1963 behind the wheel of his Dodge hardtop, and for the next twenty five years, he never missed a season; finally retiring from the sport in 1988. What made Arrington unique in the history of the sport was his absolute dedication and loyalty to Chrysler, and his positive attitude in spite of what often seemed like insurmountable odds. Being the team owner and driver, Arrington drove Dodges from 1964 all the way through mid season 1985. In 1984 and 1985, his Chrysler Imperial became the last Chrysler product in NASCAR until Dodge reentered the sport in 2001. As prolific a racer as Buddy Arrington was, and as popular as he still remains among fans, he never won a single NASCAR race. In his 560 career starts, he mustered fifteen top five finishes, and his highest points finish was seventh, achieved in 1982. Still, Buddy Arrington never abandoned the Mopar banner until Mopar completely abandoned him and pulled all parts sponsorships in 1985. Arrington died on August 2, 2022, at the age of 84.

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

NASCAR Grand National 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 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 Pts Ref 1964 Arrington Racing 78 Dodge CON AUG JSP8 SVH RSD DAY DAY DAY BRI25 GPS14 BGS ATL AWS HBO13 PIF CLB NWS18 MAR27 SVH DAR31 LGY HCY SBO12 CLT GPS7 ASH10 ATL CON15 NSV CHT BIR VAL PIF14 DAY ODS5 OBS BRR ISP GLN LIN BRI9 NSV23 MBS AWS19 DTS ONA10 CLB12 BGS23 STR DAR HCY11 RCH12 ODS HBO5 MAR42 SVH NWS31 CLT HAR9 AUG14 JAC8 34th 6364 Plymouth RCH11 1965 67 Dodge RSD DAY DAY DAY PIF ASW RCH HBO5 ATL38 GPS NWS33 MAR5 CLB BRIWth DAR CLT25 CCF NSV15 BIR8 OBSDNQ ISP GLN BRI12 NSV3 CCF AWS21 AUG11 CLB DTS BLV BGS DAR5 MAR12 NWS35 CAR41 22nd 11744 6 LGY4 BGS16 HCY19 62 ASH19 HAR12 GPS5 MBS VAL DAY ODS SMR24 PIF7 HCY25 LIN8 ODS13 RCH22 HBO18 DTS24 Lester Hunter 35 Dodge ATL10 Langley Racing 84 Ford CLT15 1966 Arrington Racing 67 Dodge AUG RSD DAY DAY DAY CAR25 BRI27 MAR36 DAR27 LGY MGR MON RCH CLT19 DTS ASH PIF SMR AWS BLV GPS DAY36 ODS24 BRR OXF FON ISP BRI ATL6 DAR39 HCY RCH23 HBO9 MAR32 NWS15 CLT44 32nd 7636 Joan Petre 73 Ford ATL28 HCY CLB GPS23 BGS22 NWS22 Fox Racing 3 Dodge SMR24 NSV15 Arrington Racing 65 Dodge CLB24 AWS11 BLV8 BGS22 Paul Lewis 1 Plymouth CAR14 1967 Arrington Racing 67 Dodge AUG RSD DAY DAY DAY AWS BRI GPS BGS ATL14 CLB HCY9 NWS27 MAR9 SVH RCH16 DAR28 BLV9 LGY12 CLT17 ASH5 MGR24 SMR BIR CAR39 GPS MGY DAY TRN OXF FDA ISP BRI22 SMR NSV ATL BGS CLB SVH DAR15 HCY RCH BLV HBO MAR NWSDNQ 26th 9768 69 CLT9 CAR AWS 1968 67 MGR MGY RSD DAY11 BRI RCH ATL HCY GPS CLB NWS MAR AUG AWS DAR BLV LGY CLT ASH MGR SMR BIR CAR GPS DAY ISP OXF FDA TRN BRI SMR NSV ATL CLB BGS AWS SBO LGY DAR HCY RCH BLV HBO MAR NWS AUG CLT CAR JFC NA 0 1969 MGR MGY RSD DAY6 DAY DAY28 CAR19 AUG BRI26 ATL10 CLB HCY GPS RCH23 NWS8 MAR5 AWS DAR BLV15 LGY9 CLT22 MGR SMR MCH KPT GPS NCF DAY23 DOV TPN TRN BLV BRI NSV SMR ATL MCH SBO BGS AWS DAR HCY RCH TAL CLB MAR5 NWS27 CLT36 SVH AUG CAR35 JFC MGR TWS 33rd 1099 1970 5 RSD DAY DAY25 DAY29 RCH CAR SVH ATL BRI TAL NWS CLB DAR6 BLV LGY CLT13 SMR MAR19 MCH39 RSD HCY KPT GPS DAY14 AST TPN TRN BRI29 SMR27 NSV32 ATL18 CLB ONA MCH32 TAL42 BGS SBO DAR14 HCY RCH26 DOV NCF NWS28 CLT8 MAR12 MGR CAR40 LGY 33rd 1087 1971 RSD DAY DAY DAY ONT RCH CAR HCY BRI ATL CLB GPS SMR NWS MAR DAR SBO TAL ASH KPT CLT DOV MCH RSD HOU GPS DAY BRI AST ISP TRN NSV ATL BGS ONA MCH TAL CLB HCY DAR MAR14 CLT DOV CAR MGR RCH NWS TWS NA 0

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 Pts Ref 1972 Arrington Racing 67 Plymouth RSD DAY32 RCH ONT 22nd 4555.89 Dodge CAR8 ATL11 BRIDNQ DAR6 NWS MAR27 TAL31 CLT7 DOV MCH9 RSD TWS DAY17 BRI TRN ATL13 TAL5 MCH33 NSV DAR6 RCH10 DOV27 MAR7 NWS11 CLT8 CAR10 TWS34 1973 RSD DAY9 RCH17 NWS25 DAR13 MAR18 NSV14 DOV21 MCH16 BRI30 ATL11 NSV12 DAR14 RCH5 DOV40 NWS25 MAR9 12th 5483.9 Plymouth CAR12 BRI14 ATL15 TAL49 CLT32 TWS17 RSD DAY18 TAL27 CLT7 CAR24 1974 RSD DAYDNQ RCH10 CAR16 BRI21 ATL DAR16 NWS27 MAR17 TAL46 NSV10 DOV12 CLT19 RSD MCH12 DAY21 BRI8 NSV9 ATL15 POC16 TAL MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR ONT 30th 221.2 1975 Dodge RSD DAY RCH6 CAR9 19th 2654 Plymouth BRI15 ATL NWS20 DAR10 MAR14 TAL38 NSV28 DOV13 CLT26 RSD MCH15 DAY21 NSV25 POC12 TAL24 MCH22 DAR17 DOV18 NWS18 MAR11 RCH12 CAR13 BRI15 ATL20 ONT Chevy CLT17 1976 Dodge RSD DAY11 CAR31 ATL30 DAR24 MAR28 TAL22 NSV26 DOV31 CLT14 RSD MCH11 DAY40 NSV26 TAL33 MCH DAR35 RCH18 DOV10 MAR11 CLT12 CAR16 ATL ONTDNQ 20th 2573 Plymouth RCH11 BRI9 NWS18 POC7 BRI17 NWS12 1977 Dodge RSD DAY38 RCH24 CAR14 ATL11 NWS10 DAR14 BRI14 MAR TAL19 NSV15 DOV11 CLT18 RSD19 MCH19 DAY22 NSV9 POC15 TAL12 MCH14 BRI10 DAR14 RCH25 DOV13 MAR7 NWS10 CLT17 CAR12 ATL17 11th 3247 Ford ONT19 1978 RSD11 RSD18 ONT35 9th 3626 Dodge DAY16 RCH15 CAR9 ATL14 BRI8 DAR18 NWS11 MAR5 TAL12 DOV13 CLT15 NSV9 MCH12 DAY34 NSV12 POC14 TAL15 MCH12 BRI12 DAR8 RCH16 DOV22 MAR10 NWS13 CLT14 CAR9 ATL16 1979 Ford RSD18 RSD9 11th 3589 Dodge DAY12 CAR19 RCH15 ATL29 NWS25 BRI13 DAR25 MAR22 TAL3 NSV26 DOV10 CLT12 TWS9 MCH15 DAY15 NSV17 POC22 TAL8 MCH20 BRI14 DAR14 RCH13 DOV32 MAR7 CLT12 NWS9 CAR17 ATL17 ONT19 1980 RSD14 DAY41 RCH6 CAR25 ATL19 BRI21 DAR14 NWS13 MAR10 TAL18 NSV27 DOV26 CLT10 TWS28 RSD14 MCH23 DAY10 NSV10 POC13 TAL38 MCH13 BRI20 DAR17 RCH12 DOV13 NWS26 MAR8 CLT13 CAR12 ATL11 ONT10 12th 3461 1981 RSD9 DAY26 RCH16 CAR37 ATL14 BRI13 NWS29 DAR13 MAR8 TAL17 DOV7 CLT15 TWS13 RSD26 MCH12 DAY17 NSV28 POC16 MCH35 BRI10 DAR37 RCH13 DOV14 MAR11 NWS10 CLT10 CAR14 ATL17 RSD24 11th 3381 Negre Racing NSV9 Arrington Racing Chrysler TAL41 1982 Dodge DAY15 RCH14 BRI15 ATL14 CAR9 DAR8 NWS16 MAR8 TAL11 NSV14 DOV11 CLT11 POC12 RSD15 MCH15 DAY12 NSV22 POC9 TAL20 BRI16 DAR9 RCH16 DOV7 NWS21 MAR10 CAR23 7th 3642 Chrysler MCH6 CLT22 ATL14 RSD35 1983 DAY16 CAR22 NWS15 TAL23 NSV16 DOV19 BRI16 CLT12 RSD17 MCH29 DAY34 NSV24 BRI13 NWS18 CLT34 ATL14 15th 3158 Dodge RCH20 ATL16 DAR23 MAR9 POC17 POC32 TAL18 MCH23 DAR18 RCH14 DOV23 MAR10 CAR12 RSD23 1984 Chrysler DAY25 RCH CAR15 NWS20 MAR25 TAL24 DOV32 RSD21 POC23 MCH18 DAY36 NSV17 POC16 TAL21 MCH31 BRI13 DAR28 RCH23 DOV17 20th 2504 Dodge ATL20 BRI22 DAR11 NSV21 CLT32 MAR18 CLTDNQ CAR20 ATLDNQ RSDDNQ Thomas Racing 41 Chevy NWS29 1985 Arrington Racing 67 Dodge DAY RCH CAR16 20th 2780 Chrysler ATL18 BRI25 RSD31 Ford DAR17 NWS20 MAR15 TAL14 DOV23 CLT22 POC19 MCH23 DAY16 POC18 TAL16 MCH10 BRI15 DAR18 RCH22 DOV11 MAR21 NWS23 CLT17 CAR16 ATL20 RSD22 1986 65 DAYDNQ 20th 2776 67 DAY23 RCH14 CAR17 ATL20 BRI17 DARDNQ NWS21 MAR15 TAL22 DOV15 CLTDNQ RSD19 POC21 MCH DAY25 POC17 TAL21 GLN24 MCH19 BRI16 DAR20 RCH12 DOV15 MAR19 NWS19 CLT22 CAR17 ATL21 RSD18 1987 Fillip Racing 81 Ford DAY CAR RCH17 ATL DAR NWS BRI MAR11 TAL 25th 1885 Arrington Racing 67 Ford CLT12 DOV18 POC25 RSD MCH37 DAY28 POC17 TAL GLN20 MCH23 BRI17 DAR24 RCH14 DOV19 MAR29 NWS27 CLT14 CAR24 RSD21 ATL22 1988 DAYDNQ RCHQL† CAR ATLDNQ DAR28 BRI NWS MAR TAL POC21 MCH23 46th 352 Chevy CLTDNQ DOV RSD DAY28 POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL† – Qualified but replaced by Ken Schrader