Phil Barkdoll (born September 7, 1937) is a former
NASCARThe 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...
owner-driver from
Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the fifth most populous city in the United States...
who only ran at two tracks in his entire career:
Daytona International SpeedwayDaytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home to the biggest and greatest race in all of NASCAR, "The Great American Race", the Daytona 500. Today the facility has a seating capacity of almost 168,000 spectators...
and
Talladega SuperspeedwayTalladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located in Eastaboga, Alabama, United States. It was constructed in the 1960s in place of the abandoned Anniston Army Airfield by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by NASCAR's founding France family along with Daytona...
.
NASCAR career
Barkdoll campaigned part-time on the NASCAR circuit from 1984 to 1997. He has provided a ride for other drivers at other tracks. Phil began racing in 1984, with his first race coming in the 1984
Winston 500At one time, two different NASCAR Sprint Cup races were known as the Winston 500:* For the race at Talladega Superspeedway, held in late April or early May, from 1971 to 1993 and in 1997, see Aaron's 499....
. After starting 16th, Phil finished a disappointing 35th after losing an engine on the 60th lap.
In 1987, Barkdoll had a spectacular accident heading into the tri-oval on the fourth lap during one of the
Twin 125The Gatorade Duel, is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500...
mile qualifying races for the
Daytona 500The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule. Matt Kenseth is the defending champion of the race....
. He got airborne, flipped across the track and into the fence before sliding to a halt on his wheels.
In 1988, Phil was yet involved in another spectacular accident at Daytona, this time in the
Daytona 500The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule. Matt Kenseth is the defending champion of the race....
itself. Coming off Turn 4 on the 106th circuit, Phil slightly tapped
Richard PettyFor the president & C.E.O. of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, see Richard PeddieRichard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
, which sent Petty tumbling down the track before being t-boned by
Brett BodineBrett Bodine , is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and is the current driver of the pace car in Sprint Cup events. Brett is employed by NASCAR as Director of Cost and Research...
.
On the 144th lap of the 1989 Daytona 500, Phil took yet another wild ride. Barkdoll's Oldsmobile slid into the dirt embankment on the backstretch, and Phil's car ended up on his side.
In 1990, Phil campaigned a second car which was driven by
Stan BarrettStan Barrett is a Hollywood stuntman, stunt coordinator and actor. His biggest act was however outside the movie world. On the 17th December 1979, he attempted to break the Land Speed Record, and the sound barrier in the Budweiser Rocket rocket powered three-wheel vehicle...
(
Stanton BarrettStanton Thomas Barrett is a NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series driver and Hollywood stuntman. He currently drives the #31 Rick Ware Racing Nationwide Series Chevrolet Impala SS and with primary sponsors INTERUSH.net, 4Caring.org, and GrandStay Residential Suites and Hotels...
's father) for the Daytona 500 and Phil Parsons during the
Winston 500At one time, two different NASCAR Sprint Cup races were known as the Winston 500:* For the race at Talladega Superspeedway, held in late April or early May, from 1971 to 1993 and in 1997, see Aaron's 499....
and The Winston.
Phil had yet more trouble at the 1991 Daytona 500, and he went for a wild spin off Turn 4 and the car lifted off the ground and blew out the windshield. This time Phil landed on all four wheels and finished a respectable 20th.
Barkdoll's final Winston Cup points paying start came in 1992 in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Phil finished 28th, four laps off the pace.
In 1993, Phil was diagnosed with cancer, and
Stanley SmithStanley Smith is a retired NASCAR driver and dirt-track racer.At the 1993 DieHard 500 at Talladega, Smith nearly died from a basilar skull fracture in a massive crash -- the same type of injury that later killed Dale Earnhardt...
drove his car in the
Twin 125'sThe Gatorade Duel, is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500...
at Daytona. Smith was eliminated in a first lap wreck with
Steve KinserSteve Kinser , is a professional sprint car racer. He has won 20 championships in the World of Outlaws series, and currently drives the #11 Quaker State car. Kinser left the World of Outlaws in 2006 to compete with the National Sprint Tour series, but returned to the World of Outlaws for the 2007...
, and did not make the field.
In 1994, Phil Barkdoll was back, but did not make the Daytona 500.
In 1995, Barkdoll had a strong run in the second qualifier in his #73 Ford, but it ended in a crash coming off turn 2.
Barkdoll's last attempt at Daytona as a driver was in 1997. That year, he qualified 25th fastest on pole qualifying day in his #73
ChevroletChevrolet is a brand of automobile produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant in 1911, Chevrolet was acquired by General Motors in 1917...
. That speed was fast enough to earn the 38th starting position after he failed to finish in the top 15 of his Twin 125. However, SABCO Racing's #42
BellsouthBellSouth Corporation is an American telecommunications holding company based in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth was one of the seven original Regional Bell Operating Companies after the U.S...
ChevroletChevrolet is a brand of automobile produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant in 1911, Chevrolet was acquired by General Motors in 1917...
for
Joe NemechekJoseph Frank Nemechek III is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and owner of NEMCO Motorsports. He won the 1992 Busch Series championship. He currently is bringing his NEMCO team back to run the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series in the #87 Chevy for 2009...
failed to qualify for the race. Team owner
Felix SabatesFelix Sabates is a Cuban entrepreneur and philanthropist living in the United States.-Early life:Sabates, was the oldest of seven, three boys and four girls. As a youth and growing up in Cuba before Fidel Castro's regime conquered the Island, Felix remembers his fortunate and blessed lifestyle...
bought Barkdoll's #73 for Nemechek, leaving Barkdoll on the sidelines, but richer as a result.
Car owner
Barkdoll owned the car that he drove in most of the Winston Cup races that he competed in during his career (with the exception of the 2 races in 1985 that his car was owned (officially) by Helen Rae Smith and his car was called the Helen Rae Special). In addition, he fielded cars for drivers such as
Ken BouchardKen Bouchard is an American former NASCAR driver. His brother Ron Bouchard was the 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year and one time Winston Cup race winner.-Modified career:...
,
Jim SauterJim Sauter is a former NASCAR race car driver from Necedah, Wisconsin.-Racing career:Sauter started racing in 1964 in a modified at Raceway Park in Savage, Minnesota. He moved up to late models the following year. Sauter moved to Wisconsin, and his career took off after he won the North Star 500...
,
Mike WallaceMike Wallace is a NASCAR race car driver. He is a younger brother to Rusty Wallace, older brother to Kenny Wallace, and uncle to Steve Wallace...
,
Joe RuttmanJoe Ruttman , is an American former racecar driver. He currently lives in Franklin, Tenn. He actively competed in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and Camping World Truck Series and is a 13 time winner in the Truck Series, the seventh most wins by any driver in the Truck...
, and
Morgan ShepherdClay Morgan Shepherd has been a NASCAR Nextel Cup driver since 1977. He has also raced in the Busch, and Craftsman Truck Series. He is a born again Christian who serves as a lay minister to the racing community...
.
In 1998, Barkdoll fielded a car in the
Daytona 500The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule. Matt Kenseth is the defending champion of the race....
sponsored by longtime sponsor X-1R Performance with
Mike WallaceMike Wallace is a NASCAR race car driver. He is a younger brother to Rusty Wallace, older brother to Kenny Wallace, and uncle to Steve Wallace...
behind the wheel. The team raced into the 500 and finished 23rd, 1 lap down.
In 1999, Barkdoll fielded his #73 with sponsorship from Three Stooges Beer at the
Daytona 500The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule. Matt Kenseth is the defending champion of the race....
for the final time. Unfortunately, his driver,
Ken BouchardKen Bouchard is an American former NASCAR driver. His brother Ron Bouchard was the 1981 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year and one time Winston Cup race winner.-Modified career:...
, was unable to qualify for the race.
Phil also works as an auctioneer.
External links