Monk Tate

John Dillard "Monk" Tate (March 29, 1934 – May 15, 2020) was an American racing driver, moonshine runner, tobacco farmer and business owner. He was a competitor in the NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series, winning the 1975 Cardinal 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Monk Tate
BornJohn Dillard Tate
(1934-03-29)March 29, 1934
Ruffin, North Carolina
DiedMay 15, 2020(2020-05-15) (aged 86)
Ruffin, North Carolina
Achievements1971 Trico Motor Speedway late model sportsman champion[1]
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
1 race run over 1 year
1982 position173rd
Best finish173rd (1982)
First race1982 Dogwood 500 (Martinsville)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of October 2, 2020.

Racing career

After becoming a racing fan in his youth, Tate started his racing career with a 1938 Chevrolet, driving it at Rainbow Speedway in his late teens. He later raced locally at tracks like Concord International Speedway, Draper Speedway and Log Cabin Raceway.[2][3] He later expanded to regional racing in the eastern United States, running races as far away as the World Series of Asphalt in Florida.[4] Tate claimed a NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division win at the Cardinal 500 at Martinsville Speedway in 1975, inheriting the lead late after Butch Lindley slowed from tire wear.[5] After briefly retiring from competitive racing in the 1980s, Tate began vintage racing in 1996 and continued to do so until 2004.[2] Bouncing between stock car racing, late model racing and modified racing, Tate estimated that he won over 1,000 races in his career, including 50 in one particularly successful season.[2]

Tate also dabbled in car ownership, fielding a ride for Cale Yarborough in 1977 at Trico Motor Speedway.[6] In the 2010s, Tate was a modified car owner at Ace Speedway.[7]

Personal life

Tate was nicknamed "Monk" after he climbed a falling tree in his childhood.[2] He ran moonshine, leading police to trap him one time by blocking both ends of a bridge on the Dan River. The incident landed Tate one night in jail and a probationary period.[2] Tate was a tobacco farmer in the beginning portions of his adult life and later owned Tate Trucking Company until 2019.[8]

Motorsports career results

Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series
NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series results
Year Car owner 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 NBLMSSC Pts Ref
1982 Monk Tate 88 Olds DAY RCH BRI MAR
32		 DAR HCY SBO CRW RCH LGY DOV HCY CLT ASH HCY SBO CAR CRW SBO HCY LGY IRP BRI HCY RCH MAR CLT HCY MAR 173rd 67 [9]

References
  1. "Sam Ard, Monk Tate Latest Entries in Permatex 100 at South Boston Speedway". The Danville Register. July 25, 1972. Retrieved October 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "John 'Monk' Tate raced in NASCAR's early days". Greensboro News & Record. June 7, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  3. Stephenson, Morris (October 21, 2008). "Morris catches up with old racing buddies". The Franklin News-Post. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  4. "Ruttman Nabs Feature Win". Orlando Evening Star. February 18, 1972. Retrieved October 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Monk Cops Cardinal". United Press International. October 6, 1975.
  6. Dyer, Bill (May 31, 1977). "Pit Stop". The Danville Bee. Retrieved October 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Smith, Adam (May 30, 2019). "York drives new path to success at Ace Speedway". Burlington Times-News. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  8. "Sad News – John Dillard "Monk" Tate". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. June 1, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  9. "Monk Tate – 1982 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  • Monk Tate driver statistics at Racing-Reference
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