Richard Petty’s Long-Term Ally Takes His Final Drive to Heaven
A hush descends on the NASCAR community as it bids farewell to a legend. A man whose life was intertwined with the roar of engines and the thrill of speed. But who is this icon whose departure has left a void in the heart of motorsports?
Tex Powell, a name synonymous with NASCAR's golden era, has taken his final drive. Born in Houston, TX in 1938, Powell's life was a testament to his passion for speed and innovation. "We maybe built one or two cars each year. Your accountability was a much bigger percentage of our success. It made it so much more rewarding when you won," he once said.
A Legacy Etched in Steel
Powell's engineering prowess was legendary. He was the mastermind behind the Chevrolet Camaro No. 81, a car that etched its name in history by winning the inaugural GP Miami IMSA GTO Grand Prix in 1983 and the GTO Class at the Daytona 24 Hours in 1984. "The three most important tools in racing are a hammer, a screwdriver, and flat black paint. What’s the most universal tool? The Hammer," Powell was quoted in Don Miller’s book, Millers’ Time Lifetime of Speed.
A Farewell to a Friend
Richard Petty, a long-time friend and collaborator of Powell, reminisced about the times when the garage was a simpler place. "We had 8–10 people working for us who did everything. They painted the car. They changed gears. They built gears. Then they went to the race track and pitted the car. There wasn’t an engineer for this or an engineer for that," he said. Today, the NASCAR community mourns the loss of a friend, a mentor, and a true legend of the sport.