Tommy Ellis

Tommy Ellis (born August 8, 1947) is an American former stock car racing driver who competed in the 1970s and 1980s. Often referred to as "Terrible" Tommy Ellis for his rough tactics, he won the last national late model sportsman championship in 1981, the final year before the format changed from "points chasing" late model sportsman racing at various short tracks across the country (now known as the Whelen All-American Series) to the current touring format, currently known as the Xfinity Series, the next year. He won the successor series in 1988.

Tommy Ellis
Ellis' 1984 car at Pocono Raceway
Born (1947-08-08) August 8, 1947
Richmond, Virginia
Achievements1981 NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Series Champion 1988 NASCAR Busch Series champion
NASCAR Cup Series career
78 races run over 12 years
Best finish23rd (1986)
First race1976 Delaware 500 (Dover)
Last race1991 Budweiser 500 (Dover)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 6 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
235 races run over 14 years
Best finish1st (1988)
First race1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race1995 Detroit Gasket 200 (Michigan)
First win1982 Gene Lovelace 200 (Langley Field)
Last win1990 Budweiser 300 (Loudon)
Wins Top tens Poles
22 108 28
Statistics current as of March 4, 2012.

Racing career

Ellis's success (12 poles and 8 wins) in the first two seasons of the Busch Series earned him a shot at a Winston Cup ride. Driving for most of three seasons in the Chevrolet camp, his best finish was an eighth at Dover in 1986. He was also considered an excellent sub-driver in the Cup Series, filling in for Neil Bonnett in 1989 and replacing a suspended Geoff Bodine at Junior Johnson Motorsports two years later.

After his release from Freedlander Racing in 1986, Ellis returned to the Busch Series with J&J Racing. Between 1988 and 1990 Ellis won nine poles and seven races. He was the Busch Series champion in 1988 in an unsponsored Buick. In 1991, he competed in the Winston at Charlotte Motor Speedway, replacing Bodine.

His Busch Series career totals are 28 poles (second all-time behind Mark Martin) and 22 wins (tied for thirteenth all-time with Sam Ard).

Ellis's last Busch Series start was in 1995.

Ellis was a stunt driver for the film Days of Thunder along with Bobby Hamilton and drove race cars numbered 51 and 18 in selected races.

In 2010, Ellis and his wife Brenda were sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal tax-evasion charges. They had underreported the income generated by their car-wash business by over $300,000 between 2003 and 2007.[1]

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.)

Winston Cup Series
NASCAR Winston Cup 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 NWCC Pts
1976 Champion Racing 10 Ford RSD DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV
21		 MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 92nd 100
1981 Ellis Racing 55 Chevy RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH
26		 DOV MAR
30		 NWS CLT
4		 CAR ATL
33		 RSD 62nd 392
1982 Gordon Racing 24 Buick DAY
DNQ		 75th 260
Ellis Racing 55 Chevy RCH
11		 BRI ATL CAR DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT POC RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH
11		 DOV NWS CLT MAR CAR ATL RSD
1983 Terry Motorsports 32 Buick DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV BRI CLT
15		 RSD POC MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD NA -
1984 Morgan–McClure Motorsports 4 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI
28		 NWS
29		 DAR
23		 MAR
29		 TAL
13		 NSV
14		 DOV CLT
14		 RSD POC MCH
38		 DAY
14		 NSV
11		 POC
34		 TAL
9		 MCH
36		 BRI
28		 DAR
19		 RCH
15		 DOV
34		 MAR
17		 CLT
33		 NWS
14		 CAR ATL RSD 31st 1738
1985 Freedlander Motorsports 18 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT
20		 RSD POC MCH
21		 DAY
17		 POC
36		 TAL
30		 MCH BRI
30		 DAR
33		 RCH
10		 DOV
26		 MAR
30		 NWS
11		 CLT
40		 CAR
30		 ATL
36		 RSD 34th 1100
1986 DAY
19		 RCH
24		 CAR
14		 ATL
13		 BRI
11		 DAR
29		 NWS MAR
24		 TAL
32		 DOV
9		 CLT
35		 RSD POC
15		 MCH
14		 DAY
38		 POC
9		 TAL
34		 GLN MCH
39		 BRI
12		 DAR RCH
21		 DOV
8		 MAR
26		 NWS
13		 CLT
31		 CAR
35		 ATL
12		 RSD 23rd 2393
1987 DAY
DNQ		 CAR
38		 RCH
27		 ATL
17		 DAR
40		 NWS BRI MAR TAL CLT DOV POC RSD MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR RSD ATL 58th 286
1988 Donlavey Racing 90 Ford DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI
DNQ		 DAR RCH DOV MAR 91st 37
Winkle Motorsports 97 Buick CLT
30		 NWS CAR PHO ATL
42
1989 Wood Brothers Racing 1 Ford DAY CAR ATL RCH DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI
DNQ		 DAR RCH DOV 66th 115
21 MAR
29		 CLT
18		 NWS
16		 CAR
Hendrick Motorsports 18 Chevy PHO
DNQ		 ATL
1990 Speed Racing 83 Olds DAY RCH
DNQ		 CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV
31		 MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 106th -
1991 Junior Johnson & Associates 97 Ford DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT
16		 DOV
21		 SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 70th 100
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1982 Gordon Racing Buick DNQ
1986 Freelander Motorsports Chevy 21 19
1987 DNQ

Busch Series
NASCAR Busch 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 NBSC Pts
1982 Ellis Racing 12 Pontiac DAY
22		 RCH
25		 MAR
33		 DAR
15		 HCY
20		 SBO
14		 CRW
11		 RCH
3		 LGY
16		 DOV
4		 HCY
10		 CLT
4		 ASH
2		 HCY
2		 SBO
16		 CAR
29		 CRW
7		 SBO
3		 HCY
2		 LGY
1		 IRP
2		 HCY
7		 RCH
15		 MAR
4		 CLT
38		 HCY
2		 MAR
25		 3rd 3873
36 BRI
3		 BRI
4
1983 12 DAY
7		 RCH
16		 CAR
11		 HCY
1*		 MAR
9		 NWS
13		 SBO
1		 GPS
24		 LGY
19		 DOV
8		 BRI
3		 CLT
34		 SBO
1*		 HCY
1*		 ROU
2		 SBO
1*		 ROU
16		 CRW
20		 ROU
6*		 SBO
1*		 HCY
3		 LGY
3		 IRP
5		 GPS
14		 BRI
3		 HCY
4*		 DAR
7		 RCH
2*		 NWS
1		 SBO
4		 MAR
25		 ROU
16*		 CLT
12		 HCY
19		 MAR
31		 4th 4929
1984 Olds DAY
35		 24th 1440
Pontiac RCH
15		 CAR
27		 HCY
6		 MAR
29		 DAR
15		 ROU
2*		 NSV LGY MLW DOV CLT SBO
23		 HCY ROU SBO
25		 ROU
12*		 HCY IRP LGY SBO
3		 RCH
1*		 NWS CLT
26		 HCY CAR MAR
36 BRI
18		 DAR
1985 12 Olds DAY
10		 CAR
29		 DAR
22		 DOV
2		 CLT
9		 CLT
26		 HCY CAR 16th 2065
Pontiac HCY
23		 BRI
15		 MAR
3		 SBO
25		 LGY
1*		 SBO
1*		 HCY ROU IRP SBO LGY
1*		 HCY MLW BRI DAR RCH
1*		 NWS ROU MAR
1*
1986 DAY
31		 CAR HCY MAR BRI DAR SBO LGY JFC DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO RAL OXF SBO HCY LGY ROU BRI DAR RCH
26		 DOV MAR ROU CLT CAR MAR 67th 155
1987 Falk Racing 04 Pontiac DAY HCY MAR
30		 DAR BRI LGY SBO
1		 CLT ROU
21		 JFC OXF RCH
32		 30th 1362
J&J Racing 58 Buick DOV
22		 DAR
11		 DOV
37		 CLT
19		 CAR
22
Chevy IRP
27
Pontiac SBO
6		 HCY RAL LGY
26		 ROU
20		 BRI JFC MAR
28		 MAR
32
1988 99 Buick DAY
18		 HCY
4		 CAR
6		 MAR
22		 DAR
14		 BRI
2		 LNG
1*		 NZH
10		 SBO
3		 NSV
20		 CLT
12		 DOV
6		 ROU
6		 LAN
17		 LVL
1		 MYB
25*		 OXF
7		 SBO
2		 HCY
3		 LNG
1*		 IRP
3		 ROU
7		 BRI
24		 DAR
14		 RCH
4		 DOV
2		 MAR
15*		 CLT
6		 CAR
9		 MAR
3		 1st 4281
1989 DAY
39		 CAR
3		 MAR
1		 HCY
2		 DAR
16		 BRI
29		 NZH
2		 SBO
1*		 LAN
6		 NSV
7		 CLT
34		 DOV
5		 ROU
16		 LVL
21		 VOL
2		 MYB
9		 SBO
2		 HCY
1*		 DUB
12		 IRP
15		 ROU
3		 BRI
8		 DAR
6		 RCH
2		 DOV
12		 MAR
29		 CLT
16		 CAR
10		 MAR
10		 3rd 3945
1990 DAY
35		 RCH
10		 CAR
6		 MAR
9*		 HCY
2		 DAR
18		 BRI
21		 LAN
3		 SBO
15		 NZH
20		 HCY
14		 CLT
5		 DOV
33		 ROU
15		 VOL
14		 MYB
7*		 OXF
15		 NHA
1*		 SBO
7		 DUB
18		 IRP
16		 ROU
9		 BRI
9		 DAR
11		 RCH
15		 DOV
27		 MAR
27		 CLT
28		 NHA
5		 CAR
8		 MAR
12		 6th 3829
1991 Speedway Motorsports 56 Buick DAY
13		 RCH
30		 CAR
16		 MAR
23		 VOL
29		 HCY
DNQ		 DAR
31		 BRI LAN SBO NZH CLT DOV ROU HCY MYB GLN OXF 33rd 1253
Ellis Racing 12 Buick NHA
43		 SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH
18		 DOV
7		 CLT
4		 NHA
13		 CAR
40
Chevy MAR
26
1992 14 DAY
DNQ		 CAR RCH
20		 ATL MAR
13		 DAR BRI HCY LAN DUB NZH CLT NHA
33		 TAL IRP ROU MCH 43rd 841
Buick DOV
22		 ROU
23 Olds MYB
29		 GLN VOL
12 Chevy NHA
30		 BRI DAR RCH
35		 MAR
30		 CAR
Buick DOV
23		 CLT
77 Chevy HCY
28
1993 Key Motorsports 05 Chevy DAY CAR RCH DAR BRI HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL IRP MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU CLT MAR
DNQ		 CAR
DNQ		 HCY
5		 ATL 76th 155
1994 DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR
10		 DAR HCY
30		 BRI ROU
6		 NHA NZH CLT
16		 DOV
41		 MYB
34		 GLN MLW SBO
28		 TAL HCY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH
38		 DOV
37		 CLT MAR CAR 46th 753
1995 Bobby Jones Racing 50 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP
17		 MCH
34		 BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM 77th 173

ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Permatex SuperCar 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 APSSC Pts
1988 Hendrick Motorsports 18 Chevy DAY ATL TAL FRS PCS ROC POC WIN KIL ACS SLM POC TAL DEL FRS ISF DSF SLM ATL
2		 102nd -

References
  1. Hallman, Randy. "Former NASCAR driver Tommy Ellis pleads guilty to tax-evasion charge". AutoWeek. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
Preceded by
Larry Pearson		 NASCAR Busch Series Champion
1988		 Succeeded by
Rob Moroso
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