Billy Hagan
Encyclopedia
Billy Joe Hagan was a NASCAR
driver/owner from Lillie
, Louisiana
, USA
.
in a self-owned 1968 Mercury
Cyclone
. He did not field another car until 1975, finishing 19th once again at Talladega. He also fielded a car for five races for Skip Manning
.
In 1976, he fielded the #92 Stratagraph
Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna for Manning, and he won Rookie of the Year honors
. Manning was released in 1978, and replaced by Terry Labonte
. Hagan hired Petty Enterprises
crew chief Dale Inman
for the 1984 season. Labonte won the Southern 500
, and won the 1984 championship. Labonte left the team in 1986, and was replaced by Sterling Marlin
. Labonte returned to the team in 1991, but was unable to continue their success. 1994, marked Hagan's last season as a single car owner, fielding cars for John Andretti
and Randy MacDonald
. In 1996, his shop was purchased by Triad Motorsports. Hagan continued to serve as a co-owner of the operation until the team's demise in 1999.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver/owner from Lillie
Lillie, Louisiana
Lillie is a village in Union Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 139 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area.According to a 2007 , Lillie was named one of the 10 worst speed traps in the state of Louisiana...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Career
He made three starts in NASCAR's Grand National/Winston Cup division, finishing eighth in his first start, the inaugural Talladega 5001969 Talladega 500
The Inaugural Talladega 500 was held at Alabama International Motor Speedway on September 14, 1969 in Talladega, Alabama, USA. It was the 44th event of the 1969 season. It is primarily remembered because all of the NASCAR stars from the PDA led by Richard Petty, boycotted the race due to a major...
in a self-owned 1968 Mercury
Mercury (automobile)
Mercury was an automobile marque of the Ford Motor Company launched in 1938 by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, to market entry-level luxury cars slotted between Ford-branded regular models and Lincoln-branded luxury vehicles, similar to General Motors' Buick brand, and Chrysler's namesake brand...
Cyclone
Mercury Cyclone
The Mercury Cyclone was produced from 1964 to 1971, beginning as an option for the 1964 Mercury Comet, and continuing as a Mercury Comet Cyclone until 1968 when the Comet part of the name was dropped, and it became the Mercury Cyclone. After 1971 it became the "performance" model of Mercury Montego...
. He did not field another car until 1975, finishing 19th once again at Talladega. He also fielded a car for five races for Skip Manning
Skip Manning
Skip Manning is a former NASCAR driver from Bogalusa, Louisiana. He competed in seventy-nine Winston Cup events in his career, spanning from 1975 to 1979. Manning won the rookie-of-the-year award in 1976...
.
In 1976, he fielded the #92 Stratagraph
Stratagraph
Stratagraph is an oil field service company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana. The primary focus of the business is providing mud logging services to petroleum exploration and production companies.The company was started in 1961 by Billy Hagan...
Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna for Manning, and he won Rookie of the Year honors
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
. Manning was released in 1978, and replaced by Terry Labonte
Terry Labonte
Terrance Lee Labonte is a semi-retired NASCAR driver who occasionally drives in the Sprint Cup Series when called upon and is a two-time Winston Cup and IROC champion. He currently drives the #32 U.S. Chrome Ford for FAS Lane Racing. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had...
. Hagan hired Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises
Petty Enterprises was a NASCAR racing team based in Randleman, North Carolina, USA. The team was owned by Richard Petty, his son Kyle Petty, and Boston Ventures. At the time of its folding the team operated the #43 and #45 Dodge Chargers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Petty Enterprises ran from...
crew chief Dale Inman
Dale Inman
Dale Inman is a retired NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup crew chief from Level Cross, North Carolina. He is best known for being the crew chief of Richard Petty at Petty Enterprises during three decades. They won 198 races and seven championships together...
for the 1984 season. Labonte won the Southern 500
Southern 500
The Showtime Southern 500 is the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, USA, and is the second such event at Darlington to bear the name. It began in 1957 as a race in the Convertible Division, known as the Rebel 300. In 1966, the race was...
, and won the 1984 championship. Labonte left the team in 1986, and was replaced by Sterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin is a retired NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He is the son of late NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. He is married to Paula and has a daughter, Sutherlin, and a son, Steadman, who sometimes races in the Nationwide Series....
. Labonte returned to the team in 1991, but was unable to continue their success. 1994, marked Hagan's last season as a single car owner, fielding cars for John Andretti
John Andretti
John Andretti is an American race car driver. He has won in CART, IMSA GTP, Rolex Sports Car Series and NASCAR. He was the last NASCAR driver to win a Cup race for the famous Petty Enterprises team.-Andretti family:...
and Randy MacDonald
Randy MacDonald
Randy MacDonald , is a driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, as well as the car owner of the full-time #81 MacDonald Motorsports car in the Nationwide Series. He is a veteran of all three major NASCAR Series...
. In 1996, his shop was purchased by Triad Motorsports. Hagan continued to serve as a co-owner of the operation until the team's demise in 1999.