Tragic news has hit the NASCAR community recently, as former NASCAR driver, Buddy Arrington passed away on August 2. Arrington turned 84 just a few days ago and his absence will be felt. Although he has never won a Cup title in his career, Arrington is a great driver. This is evident by his 103 Top 10 finishes over the course of his 25-year career in the top flight of stock car racing. When the news broke, Dale Earnhardt Jr. led a tribute to the late driver.
I am saddened to learn of the passing of Buddy Arrington, another of NASCAR’s most famous independents – both for his unique style and his commitment to running Mopar products well into the 1980s. My condolences to Joey and the rest of the Arrington family.
— Brock Beard (@LASTCARonBROCK) August 3, 2022
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Man that one hurts, Buddy was a GOAT Independent of his era
— Colby Evans-ARCA/NASCAR S&P Cars (@StartAndParkCar) August 3, 2022
RIP Buddy! Always brought great looking racing cars. 1st race car I saw in person. I’ve been in his shop a few times and I’ve been in hospitals that are not that clean. May never have had the fastest equipment but it was always as good as he was.
— Tommy Underwood (@TommyLUnderwood) August 3, 2022
Arrington is probably best known for being a top independent driver in the Cup Series. It should also be mentioned that he often drives Mopar products and many insist that the cars he drives are beautiful. Dale Earnhardt Jr said, “One of the true independent sports. Buddy was always fun to watch. Like all independents of his era, you have to admire the effort and resourcefulness it takes to compete.”
GO DEEPER
What else have NASCAR fans said about Buddy Arrington?
Some NASCAR fans have many stories about the 84-year-old and how he rode during the Winston Cup. According to some, he was known for keeping his workshops clean and tidy. Normally, people expect workshops to be a hive of activity with a lot of chaos. However, it is said that under Arrington’s watch, it will be a hive of activity without a hitch.
Is he famous for making his own pit stops every now and then? Damn shame, what a Mopar legend. RIP
— RC Gartner (@rctothefuture) August 3, 2022
Before Dodge re-entered NASCAR in 2001, Buddy Arrington led the last Mopar-backed entry – a No. 67 Chrysler Imperial – in the 1985 Budweiser 400 at Riverside Int’l Raceway, before Mopar left the sport.
Arrington was a dedicated Mopar man, may he RIP #NASCAR https://t.co/yiMvgwSuuv
— Jonathan Fjeld (pay shout) (@Jonathan_Fjeld) August 3, 2022
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Runor also said that on several occasions, he will conduct his own pit stops during the race. One thing is for sure, Buddy Arrington will be missed in the community. In his very first NASCAR Winston Cup race, he stormed to an eighth-place finish at Jacksonville Speedway. Meanwhile, his best career finish was third at Talladega Superspeedway back in 1979 for his own Arrington Racing team.
WATCH THE STORY: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Is All of Us as He Reacts to Heartbreaking Tragedy