Dick Trickle

Dick Trickle arrived in the Cup Series as the 1989 Rookie of the Year at age 48, a fact that barely scratches the surface of one of the most fascinating careers in American motorsport. The Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin native was already a legend in short-track racing, with an estimated 1,200 career victories on the regional circuit that made him one of the most prolific winners in the history of American racing. Before reaching NASCAR's top level, Trickle had dominated the ASA circuit and short tracks throughout the Midwest, earning a reputation as one of the most naturally talented racers in the country. His late arrival in Cup meant his window was compressed, but his 303 Cup starts and multiple top-10 finishes proved he belonged at the highest level. Trickle's name became widely known beyond racing circles, partly because of its uniqueness and partly because of his appearances on ESPN's short-track coverage during the 1980s, which introduced his abilities to a national audience before he ever turned a Cup lap. His personality was as distinctive as his name -- understated, dry-witted, and authentically Midwestern. His career reminds the racing world that the sport's roots are not in gleaming superspeedways but on the dusty, rutted ovals scattered across America where men like Dick Trickle won race after race, week after week, for decades before anyone with a television camera noticed.

Written by Richard R. Glover, NASCAR Reference