ASHEVILLE AREA RACERS, CREW CHIEFS, OWNERS
FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF WNC TO THE TRACKS OF NASCAR 
This is page is to teach you a little about the men that have brought NASCAR closer to home. They had a dream and they went out and did it. Some became drivers, some crew chiefs, some owners and others crew members. The one thing they all had in common was the desire to win.
From left to right RICHARD JACKSON , ANDY PETREE, DAVE MARCIS, ROBERT PRESSLEY, STEPHEN LEICHT, JACK INGRAM, LEO JACKSON
Below you will see pictures of autographed items from Ashevilles finest.
DAVE MARCIS
Dave raced NASCAR in Five different decades. His first track was also his last. That track ws none other than Daytona. His 33 Daytona 500 starts is more than anyone else in the history of NASCAR
Dollar for dollar no one could touch him. From his wingtips to the goodyear hat you knew Dave would be there racing not for the money but for the love of Racing.
Dave could have driven for most anybody but he decided he wanted to do it his way. Never looking back he tackled the tracks one by one while not owing anyone anything. Dave Marcis should be in the hall of fame.
DAVE HAS 206 TRADING CARDS LISTED BY BECKETT, I HAVE 191 OF THEM 15 TO GO
ROBERT PRESSLEY
Robert grew up fixing his father BOB's race cars. Bob Pressley was a hard charger on the late model circuit and was one of the best.
Robert grew up to drive also first being a champion in the late models and then moving onto the Busch Circuit with Arden based Alliance on the side of the car.
He had 10 wins in the busch series and moved up to the cup series. He replaced Handsome Harry in the Leo Jackson Skoal Chevrolet based also in arden NC.
Before his retirement he did three seasons in the truck series and had two wins. Robert now is helping guide his son Colemans racing effort. Looks like the DNA is still in the genes as Coleman won at hickory in 2006.
ROBERT HAS 382 TRADING CARDS LISTED BY BECKETT I HAVE 362 20 TO GO
JACK INGRAM
Jack is going to be inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame at the end of the month.
“Ironman” Jack Ingram was one of the dominant drivers in the old Grand National Series (Late Model Sportsman Series), and didn’t miss a beat when NASCAR introduced its new Busch Series in 1982, winning the very first championship. Ingram, from Asheville, North Carolina, claimed his first Late Model Sportsman Series championship in 1972, and it was no accident. Ingram spent the five previous years racing at many of the same tracks on which the championship was contested, learning them and how to set his car up to race on them. He won that first title by 1,650 points over Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. It also ended a string of three straight championships by Red Farmer, and began Ingram’s own streak of three in a row. His fourth title came in the first year of the Busch Series, and his fifth and final one came in 1985. At the time of his retirement in 1991, Ingram was the Busch Series all-time win leader with 31. In his career, Ingram won hundreds of races, including the Daytona Permatex 300 twice, (1975 and 1980) and captured many track championships. (as written on the IMHOF website)
JACK HAS 52 TRADING CARDS LISTED BY BECKETT I HAVE 48 OF THEM 4 TO GO
STEPHEN LEICHT.
Stephen Leicht is the newest NASCAR driver from Ashevile NC. As of today he is competed in only 29 Busch events and One Cup race.
However his seems poised to stick around and win. He has the patience of a seasoned veteran and an limitless ability. He showed what he could do in Mexico City last year. In that race he was in 7th postion when someone took him out. He did get a second top ten at Nashville Tn.
He also won Kentucky last year
Moving to RCR in 2008 he has run two races and looked great. A sponsorship is looming in april. His interaction with the fans is friendly and comfortable.
He is Leicht years ahead of his competion in talent.+
STEPHEN HAS 22 TRADING CARDS LISTED BY BECKETT I HAVE 23 OF THEM BECKETT MISSED ONE
EDWIN "BANJO" MATTHEWS.
Banjo is the first of the Asheville bunch to make it into the IMHOF. This write up appears on the IMHOF website.
Edwin Keith "Banjo" Matthews, a native of Akron, Ohio, had a high degree of success behind the wheel of Modified race cars, winning hundreds of races during his career, but his primary claim to fame is the cars he built for others to drive. His shop, Banjo's Performance Center near Asheville, NC, is perhaps the second-most famous building in town, running a close second to the prestigious Biltmore House.
After moving to Miami from Ohio, he ran his first race at age 15 in a Ford Roadster at Pompano Beach Speedway in 1947, and won, After five years of racing and working on cars, Matthews decided he wanted to race for a living, and moved to Asheville, NC in 1952. He raced both dirt and asphalt, building a reputation as one of the best modified drivers around, and he was ready when NASCAR went to the superspeedways in the early 1960's. Banjo raced 50 times on the Grand National circuit, with a second at Atlanta being his closest encounter with victory lane.
In 1963, he left the driving to others, joining the Ford factory team building cars for Parnelli Jones, A. J. Foyt, Donnie Allison, Pete Hamilton and Bobby Isaac. When the factories pulled out, Banjo opened his own shop, and the legend began. He made a deal with John Holman of Holman-Moody, and built kit-type Fords in 1971. Matthews built the body and framework, and H-M put in the motors. After that, he built cars for Chevrolet.
Cars owned by Matthews won nine races and 14 poles in 160 starts, including three Firecracker 400's at Daytona. But he decided to turn all of his energies to building cars for others to own, and that is when he really made a name for himself
Cars built by Matthews won 262 of 362 NASCAR Winston Cup races from 1974-1985, including all 30 races in 1978, and four consecutive Winston Cup championships (1975-78). On many occasions, cars built by Banjo Matthews comprised over half the field, Not only did he build them, he also repaired them. In addition to Winston Cup cars, he built Limited Sportsman, Modifieds and IROC cars.
His greatest joy was helping someone else, and his goal was to build each car as competitive and safe as the one before it. Despite not seeking the glory that comes with driving, Matthews still has a room frill of recognition from various groups. In the months before he died of heart and respiratory disease in 1996, he was honored by being awarded the Buddy Shuman Award, the Smokey Yunick Award for lifetime mechanical achievement, and has been inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame at Darlington.
BANJO HAS 10 TRADING CARDS LISTED BY BECKETT I HAVE 9 OF THEM 1 TO GO
CHARLEY PRESSLEY
Charley grew up as a kid working on Bob Pressleys late model car. He learned a lot and must have enjoyed it because he made it to the cup level doing it. He was able to be the crew chief on Leo Jacksons Skoal chevrolet piloted by his brother.
He also later did those duites with Ricky Craven who edged out Robert for rookie of the year honors in 1995.
CHARLEY HAS 45 TRADING CARDS LISTED BY BECKETT, I HAVE 40 OF THEM 5 TO GO
ANDY PETREE
Andy Petree is the most diverse member of the Asheville racers. He has been a tire changer, a championship crew chief (for dale earnhardt no less) went back to Leo Jackson and bought the team. He has won two races as an owner.
He also raced himself driving in the busch series and the truck series where he posted 1 top 10.
Now he is a commentator on ESPN.
The coolest thing he has ever done happened recently when he flew with the blue angels. GO NAVY.
ANDY HAS 74 TRADING CARDS LISTED BY BECKETT I HAVE 71 OF THEM 3 TO GO
LEO JACKSON
leo Jackson is one half of the jackson brothers. Together they owned a team and won two races.
Leo won 8 races as a single team owner.
His main driver during this time was Handsome Harry and included four straight wins giving Harry the nickname Mr. September.
LEO HAS 40 TRADING CARDS LISTED BY BECKETT I HAVE 40 OF THEM
RICHARD JACKSON
Richard won two races as co owner with his brother Leo. Richard decided to start his own team and started Precision Performance racing.
His main driver during his tenure was Rick Mast but his most famous was the future two time champion Terry Labonte.
Richard retired as owner in 1997 and hopefully one day he and his brother will write a book about their experiences.
RICHARD HAS 32 TRADING CARDS LISTED BY BECKETT I HAVE ALL 32 OF THEM
RONNIE SILVER
Ronnie Silver is one of the most consistent drivers on the circuit. While driving a limited schedule in 1982 placed 12th. Ronnie won two championships at the river in 1982 and 1983.
HE finished his driving career with a record of 2 wins 31 top 5's and 79 top 10's.
RONNIE HAS 6 TRADING CARDS LISTED BY BECKETT I HAVE ALL OF THEM
GENE BLACK
Gene Black tried his hand at owner and driver. His two most famous drivers were Buddy Baker and the other Elmo Langley.
Always on a tight budget Gene never did win but he did six top tens in 37 starts.
As owner he had two top fives.
If you have ever seen the old Goodys commercial where the king gets hit and heads to the wall. The driver of the other car in that commercial was Gene. However that wreck was the kings fault andhe apologized later.