Richard May (November 7, 1930 – June 9, 2009) was a NASCAR driver who competed in 185 races in the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup Series between 1967 and 1985.

Racing career

May began his racing career at the St. Lawrence Valley Speedway in Canton, New York. He spent much of his early career racing at the Watertown Speedway, where he was 1962 Track Champion. Known as NASCAR’s pinch hitter, May was a coveted as a relief driver and hailed for his ability to qualify cars and avoid crashing, and some estimates put his total NASCAR appearances at over 500. In the 1975 running of the Mason-Dixon 500, May drove five different cars but did not finish the race. After retiring as a driver, NASCAR, worked as a NASCAR inspector until 2003. May was inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 2007.

Death

On June 9, 2009, May died following a long illness.

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

Winston Cup Series

Daytona 500