Photo: IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com
Former NASCAR driver Dick Trickle died from a reported self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday, May 16, in North Carolina. Retired in 2002, Trickle was 71 years old.
According to local authorities, Trickle called the Lincoln County Communications Center before noon and said "There will be a dead body at the location and it will be his." The former driver was found next to his pick-up truck near a cemetery.
"Dick was a legend in the short-track racing community, particularly in his home state of Wisconsin, and he was a true fan favorite. Personalities like Dick Trickle helped shape our sport. He will be missed," said NASCAR chairman Brian France.
"I'm in 100 percent shock. Dick Trickle was my mentor. When I was short track racing, I would call him every Monday morning and he would always help me with race setups and stuff. [...] He was a legend. A man that'd won over a thousand short track races, was one of the most winning short trackers in America, was a role model to many short track racers coming up. Could just do magic with the race car and he taught me so much about racing. My success in the ASA and what Trickle taught me is what got me into NASCAR. That's what got me hired by Cliff Stewart back in '84," said former rival Rusty Wallace.
Although he never won a NASCAR Sprint Cup event, Trickle had 303 race starts to his name, 15 top fives, 36 top tens and one pole position. His NASCAR Sprint Cup career lasted from 1970 through 2002.
"Dick was a legend in the short-track racing community, particularly in his home state of Wisconsin, and he was a true fan favorite. Personalities like Dick Trickle helped shape our sport. He will be missed," said NASCAR chairman Brian France.
"I'm in 100 percent shock. Dick Trickle was my mentor. When I was short track racing, I would call him every Monday morning and he would always help me with race setups and stuff. [...] He was a legend. A man that'd won over a thousand short track races, was one of the most winning short trackers in America, was a role model to many short track racers coming up. Could just do magic with the race car and he taught me so much about racing. My success in the ASA and what Trickle taught me is what got me into NASCAR. That's what got me hired by Cliff Stewart back in '84," said former rival Rusty Wallace.
Although he never won a NASCAR Sprint Cup event, Trickle had 303 race starts to his name, 15 top fives, 36 top tens and one pole position. His NASCAR Sprint Cup career lasted from 1970 through 2002.
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