TOOELE, Utah (ABC-4 Sports) - Hershel McGriff started racing cars in 1945, and he hasn't slowed down one bit. At 81 years old, McGriff is the oldest driver ever to compete in a NASCAR series event. He'll race this weekend at Miller Motorsports Park as part of the NASCAR Camping World West Series.
McGriff initially retired from racing in 2002, but on July 20th in Portland, he broke his own record for oldest driver when he finished 13th.
A 64-year veteran, McGriff won his first race back in 1950 at the Pan American Road Race in Mexico. He went on to win four times on the NASCAR Cup circuit, and 37 times on the Winston West series. McGriff was elected to the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006, and he has raced against the likes of Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and Cale Yarborough.
McGriff has seen it all in the sport of racing. After winning that race in Mexico in 1950, McGriff then drove his racecar all the way back to Portland himself. He then got invited to compete at the inagural Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina, so he drove his car all the way across country to the track, raced 500 miles, then drove home to Portland. Times have indeed changed since then.
Racing is a family affair for McGriff. His son, Hershel Jr. is his crew chief, and his two daughters are part of his pit crew. He has six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and even two great-great grandchildren. McGriff says he would not be still racing if it weren't for the support of his family, and doesn't see himself quitting anytime soon.
