Billy Hagan (racing driver)

Billy Joe Hagan (March 22, 1932 – November 16, 2007) was a NASCAR owner/driver. He owned Hagan Racing and was known for winning the 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship with Terry Labonte.

Billy Hagan
Born(1932-03-22)March 22, 1932
Lillie, Louisiana
DiedNovember 16, 2007(2007-11-16) (aged 75)
Concord, North Carolina
NASCAR Cup Series career
3 races run over 3 years
Best finish84th (1975)
First race1969 Talladega 500 (Talladega)
Last race1979 Texas 400 (Texas)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1981–1982
TeamsStratagraph Inc.
Best finish17th (1982)

Career

He made three starts in NASCAR's Grand National/Winston Cup division, finishing eighth in his first start, the inaugural Talladega 500 in a self-owned 1968 Mercury Cyclone. He did not field another car until 1975, finishing 19th once again at Talladega. He also fielded a car for five races for Skip Manning.

In 1976, he fielded the #92 Stratagraph Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna for Manning, and he won Rookie of the Year honors. Manning was released in 1978, and replaced by Terry Labonte. Hagan hired Petty Enterprises crew chief Dale Inman for the 1984 season.[1] Labonte won the Southern 500, and won the 1984 championship. Labonte left the team in 1986, and was replaced by Sterling Marlin. Labonte returned to the team in 1991, but was unable to continue their success. 1994, marked Hagan's last season as a single car owner, fielding cars for John Andretti and Randy MacDonald. In 1996, his shop was purchased by Triad Motorsports. Hagan continued to serve as a co-owner of the operation until the team's demise in 1999.

In 1981 Hagan entered a Chevrolet Camaro stock car under the Stratagraph team name in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Powered by a modified 350-cubic-inch Chevrolet small block, the car qualified well enough in the IMSA GT class, but was sidelined by a crash caused by brake failure.[2] Drivers were Billy Hagan, Cale Yarborough, and Bill Cooper; also listed by some sources was Bobby Mitchell. The following year, he came 17th at 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans, always on Camaro V8 350 inch Chevrolet small block (#81 team Stratagraph inc.), paired with Gene Felton. The other team car (#80 Camaro V8, Stratagraph inc.) arrives 19th.

Death

Hagan died on November 16, 2007, at the age of 75.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series
NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 NGNC Pts
1969 Billy Hagan Racing 52 Mercury MGR MGY RSD DAY DAY DAY CAR AUG BRI ATL CLB HCY GPS RCH NWS MAR AWS DAR BLV LGY CLT MGR SMR MCH KPT GPS NCF DAY DOV TPN TRN BLV BRI NSV SMR ATL MCH SBO BGS AWS DAR HCY RCH TAL
8		 CLB MAR NWS CLT SVH AUG CAR JFC MGR TWS NA -

Winston Cup Series
NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 NWCC Pts
1975 Billy Hagan Racing 52 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL
19		 MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT 84th 106
1978 Billy Hagan Racing 92 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT NSV RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT
DNQ		 NA -
1979 Henley Gray 19 Chevy RSD DAY CAR RCH ATL NWS BRI DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS
17		 RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR ATL ONT 95th 112

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

(key)

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1981 United States Stratagraph Inc. United States Cale Yarborough
United States Bill Cooper		 Chevrolet Camaro IMSA GTO 13 DNF DNF
1982 United States Stratagraph Inc. United States Gene Felton
United States Tom Williams		 Chevrolet Camaro IMSA GTO 269 17th 2nd

References
  1. Houston, Rick (June 1, 2007). "Where is ... Dale Inman?". NASCAR. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
  2. Sports Illustrated July 13, 1981
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