Gene Tapia
Encyclopedia
Eugene "Gene" H. Tapia was an American race car driver from Mobile, Alabama
. He competed in four NASCAR
Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) races, but he is best known for racing in the #327 supermodified. He was nicknamed the "King of the Supermodifieds."
with his father. He attended a thrill show with his uncle and his father started taking him to motorcycle races in the mid 1930s.
Tapia got married, and at age 17 he left to work as a civilian on a military base in Alaska
because he was involved in a street fight. The county district attorney
suggested that he should leave town to avoid prosecution. He was wounded when the Japanese attacked Dutch Harbor
in June 1942. While he was gone, his wife gave birth to a boy named Larry Eugene Tapia in September 1942 at Memphis, Tennessee. Before either parent was able to see the baby, he was stolen by Georgia Tann
's baby theft ring that worked at the hospital. He returned to Mobile and decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps
in June 1943. He served with the Third Marine Division in Guadalcanal
, the first-day invasion of Guam, and spent over 35 days on Iwo Jima
.
off his mind. That year, his car lost a wheel just after he crossed the finish line to win his first stock car race at Chisholm Fairgrounds in Montgomery, Alabama
. He raced in several NASCAR
races that season. During his brief time spent racing in NASCAR, he won the Florida
state title and the 1953 Mississippi
state title. He left the circuit because he wanted to race five nights per week instead of one night. "Tapia was right up there with the best," said Donnie Allison
. "He could have made it real good in NASCAR, if he had chosen. But I think his regard for his family and the desire to race more frequently is what kept him closer to home."
Tapia won the 1968 and 1969 World 300 Supermodified race at Mobile International Speedway
. The event is billed as the "world's richest supermodified race".
, was told that his parents had died in an automobile accident. Tapia died in 2005 at the age of 80.
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
. He competed in four NASCAR
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...
Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) races, but he is best known for racing in the #327 supermodified. He was nicknamed the "King of the Supermodifieds."
Early life
Tapia was born on March 16, 1925 to Ada and Homer Tapia. In around 1934, he attended a dirt track raceDirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
with his father. He attended a thrill show with his uncle and his father started taking him to motorcycle races in the mid 1930s.
Tapia got married, and at age 17 he left to work as a civilian on a military base in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
because he was involved in a street fight. The county district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
suggested that he should leave town to avoid prosecution. He was wounded when the Japanese attacked Dutch Harbor
Battle of Dutch Harbor
The Battle of Dutch Harbor took place on 3-4 June 1942, and was a minor air and naval battle of the Aleutian Islands Campaign of World War II between Imperial Japanese Navy and United States Army and Navy forces.-Overview:...
in June 1942. While he was gone, his wife gave birth to a boy named Larry Eugene Tapia in September 1942 at Memphis, Tennessee. Before either parent was able to see the baby, he was stolen by Georgia Tann
Georgia Tann
Georgia Tann, born Beulah George Tann , operated the Tennessee Children's Home Society, an adoption agency in Memphis, Tennessee. Tann used the unlicensed home as a front for her black market baby adoption scheme from the 1920s until a state investigation closed the institution in 1950...
's baby theft ring that worked at the hospital. He returned to Mobile and decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in June 1943. He served with the Third Marine Division in Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal campaign
The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II...
, the first-day invasion of Guam, and spent over 35 days on Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
.
Racing career
In 1948, Tapia's began racing to get battle stressCombat stress reaction
Combat stress reaction , in the past commonly known as shell shock or battle fatigue, is a range of behaviours resulting from the stress of battle which decrease the combatant's fighting efficiency. The most common symptoms are fatigue, slower reaction times, indecision, disconnection from one's...
off his mind. That year, his car lost a wheel just after he crossed the finish line to win his first stock car race at Chisholm Fairgrounds in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. He raced in several NASCAR
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...
races that season. During his brief time spent racing in NASCAR, he won the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
state title and the 1953 Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
state title. He left the circuit because he wanted to race five nights per week instead of one night. "Tapia was right up there with the best," said Donnie Allison
Donnie Allison
Dunkiny "Donnie" Allison is a former driver on the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup circuit, who won ten times during his racing career, which spanned the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. He was part of the "Alabama Gang," and is the brother of 1983 champion Bobby Allison and uncle of Davey Allison...
. "He could have made it real good in NASCAR, if he had chosen. But I think his regard for his family and the desire to race more frequently is what kept him closer to home."
Tapia won the 1968 and 1969 World 300 Supermodified race at Mobile International Speedway
Mobile International Speedway
Mobile International Speedway is a 1/2 mile paved oval North American Auto racing track located in the Mobile County, Alabama community of Irvington, Alabama. The track is situated along U.S. Highway 90...
. The event is billed as the "world's richest supermodified race".
Later life
Tapia was able to meet his son in 1990. The 47-year-old, who was living in MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, was told that his parents had died in an automobile accident. Tapia died in 2005 at the age of 80.