Blackie Pitt

William H. "Blackie" Pitt (March 18, 1925 – March 28, 1992) was a NASCAR Grand National Series racer born in the American town of Rocky Mount, North Carolina.[1] He is best known as the 1954 NASCAR Rookie of the Year.[2]

Blackie Pitt
Pitt next to one of his cars
BornWilliam H. Pitt
(1925-03-08)March 8, 1925
Rocky Mount, North Carolina, United States
DiedMarch 28, 1992(1992-03-28) (aged 67)
Cause of deathCancer
Awards1954 Grand National Series Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Cup Series career
81 races run over 4 years
Best finish11th (1954)[1]
First race1954 Wilkes County 160 (North Wilkesboro)
Last race1958 Race #14 (Old Bridge)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 19 0
Statistics current as of April 22, 2013.

Career

Pitt raced from 1954 to 1958 and competed in 81 races in his four-year NASCAR career.[1] One of his most memorable appearances in NASCAR was at the 1955 Southern 500; where he would race in a 1955 Ford Fairlane owned by his brother W.W. "Brownie" Pitt.[3] This race would be captured on film and memorialized for future generations.[4] His total career in NASCAR consisted of completing 9326 laps of professional American stock car racing.[1] According to history, Pitt generally did better on short tracks than he did on road courses and intermediate tracks.[5]

Pitt would end up contributing nineteen finishes in the top ten and accumulating 6,222.1 miles or 10,013.5 kilometres of stock car racing experience.[1] His total career earnings is considered to be $5,619 ($49,793.28 when adjusted for inflation).[1] Pitt was the recipient of the 1954 NASCAR Rookie of the Year award although he never received an official trophy.[2] Due to the sudden disqualification of Joe Weatherly and Jim Reed at the end of an untitled 1955 Palm Beach Speedway race in West Palm Beach, Florida, Pitt was awarded an additional $50 ($477.2 when adjusted for inflation).[2] The money came from a Mrs. Gail John Bruner using her Wachovia Bank and Trust Company bank account to access the funds.[2]

Pitt's ultimate retirement came after finishing in last place at a 1958 race at Old Bridge Stadium that had a 27-driver grid that included Elmo Langley, Lee Petty, and Junior Johnson.[6]

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References
  1. "Racing information for Blackie Pitt". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  2. "Blackie Pitt information". Studebaker Racing. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  3. "1955 Southern 500 racing information". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  4. Stock Cars of 50s & 60s – Stock Car Memories: Darlington-Southern 500 (DVD). Topics Entertainment.
  5. "Blackie Pitt complete NASCAR statistics by race type". Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  6. "Blackie Pitt's final race". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
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