Bill Wimble Explained

Birth Name:

William R. Wimble

Birth Date:

January 11, 1932

Birth Place:

Lisbon, NY

Death Place:

Hillsborough, FL, U.S.

Total Cup Races:

Years In Cup:

Best Cup Pos:

48th (1962)

First Cup Race:

1958 (Reading, PA)

Last Cup Race:

1962 Daytona 500 (Daytona)^[1]

Cup Wins:

Cup Top Tens:

Cup Poles:

Module1:

Embed:

yes

Module2:

Child:	yes
Blank Label:	1960,1961
Blank Data:	National Champion^[2]

Awards:

Carnegie Hero,
New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame, Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame, Eastern Motorsport Press Association

William (Bill) Wimble (January 11, 1932 – April 24, 2016) was an American stock car racing driver and two time champion of the NASCAR Sportsman Division (predecessor of currently Xfinity Series).

Racing career

Bill Wimble was champion of the 1960 NASCAR Sportsman Division (predecessor of the Xfinity Series) and along with Dick Nephew was 1961 co-champion. Folklore has it the 1961 “tie” was a fabrication designed to cover-up a mistake by NASCAR officials.^[3]

From 1958 to 1962, Wimble made four appearances in the NASCAR Grand National Series. He otherwise spent the majority of his career racing in the Sportsman and Modified classes at the renowned tracks of the northeast including Airborne Park Speedway NY, Albany-Saratoga Speedway NY, Fonda Speedway NY, and Utica-Rome Speedway NY.^[4]

Wimble won 14 track championships. He was inducted into the Eastern Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, the New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame and the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame.^[5]

Carnegie Hero

Wimble along with four others rescued Marvin Panch from a burning race car at the Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 1963, and each received the prestigious Carnegie Medal for their heroism.^[6]

That same year, Wimble was pulled from a burning wreck during a race in Syracuse, New York by fellow racer Ernie Gahan, who was also one of those responsible for saving Marvin Punch.^[7]

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		Pts	Ref
1958	Lyle Sokoll	400	Ford	FAY	DAB	CON	FAY	WIL	HBO	FAY	CLB	PIF	ATL	CLT	MAR	ODS	OBS	GPS	GBF	STR	NWS	BGS	TRN	RSD	CLB	NBS	REF	LIN	HCY	AWS	RSP	MCC	SLS	TOR	BUF																						114th	120.5	^[8]
1958	Lyle Sokoll	400	Chevy																																	MCF	BEL	BRR	CLB	NSV	AWS	BGS	MBS		CLT	BIR	CSF	GAF	RCH	HBO	SAS	MAR	NWS	ATL			114th	120.5	^[8]
1962	Dave McCredy	32	Pontiac	CON	AWS	DAY		DAY	CON	AWS	SVH	HBO	RCH	CLB	NWS	GPS	MBS	MAR	BGS	BRI	RCH	HCY	CON	DAR	PIF	CLT	ATL	BGS	AUG	RCH	SBO	DAY	CLB	ASH	GPS	AUG	SVH	MBS	BRI	CHT	NSV	HUN	AWS	STR	BGS	PIF	VAL	DAR	HCY	RCH	DTS	AUG	MAR	NWS	CLT	ATL	48th	1944	^[9]

Daytona 500

Notes and References

Web site: Bill Wimble-NASCAR Cup Series. Racing-Reference. April 11, 2023.
Web site: Wimble a true legend at Fonda. 14 August 2009. The Daily Gazette. April 15, 2023.
Web site: NASCAR tie honored at Dick Nephew night. 27 August 2011 . Press Republican. April 10, 2023.
Web site: Bill Wimble Career Results. The Third Turn. April 15, 2023.
Web site: EMPA Hall of Fame-Bill Wimble. Eastern Motorsports Press Association. April 15, 2023.
Web site: William R. Wimble. Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. April 15, 2023.
News: Whaley. Mike. Gahan was a NASCAR pioneer . Foster's Daily Democrat. December 3, 2009. May 24, 2023.
Web site: Bill Wimble – 1958 NASCAR Grand National Results. Racing-Reference. July 9, 2023.
Web site: Bill Wimble – 1962 NASCAR Grand National Results. Racing-Reference. July 9, 2023.