Catchfence

Asheville, NC (May 31, 2010) – Former NASCAR team owner Richard Jackson passed away Monday evening. Jackson, who fielded cars from 1975 to 2001 in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Grand National Series, was 74.

Richard Jackson was born on March 31, 1937 in Asheville, NC. Racing and race cars were always a passion of Richard’s, and he and brother Leo Jackson Jr. built their first racer when Richard was 18. They raced the car through the mid-1950’s at the McCormick Field baseball stadium in Asheville, NC.

Jackson graduated in 1960 from Georgia Tech University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1964, Jackson, along with father Leo Jackson Sr., and brother Leo Jackson Jr., formed Precision Products of Asheville. Though they did not own a race team through the 60’s the Precision Products Company built specialized parts for many racers in NASCAR.

In the fall of 1974, brothers Richard, and Leo Jr., formed Precision Products Racing. The team competed in the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Division, which later became the NASCAR Busch Series, and then the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team’s first season of racing was in 1975 with driver Bob Pressley (father of former NASCAR driver Robert Pressley and grandfather to NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Coleman Pressley) behind the wheel. The team won its first race, and went on to win an astounding 34 of 53 races that season. Drivers Tommy Ellis and Dave Marcis also drove for the PPR Late Model Sportsman Team.

In 1981 Precision Products Racing made its NASCAR Winston Cup debut (now the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series) at Darlington Raceway with driver Dave Marcis, and sponsorship from Asheville businessman Paul Young.

At the start of the 1985 Winston Cup Season, Richard and Leo Jr. acquired the U.S. Tobacco team and sponsorship, competing in Winston Cup with a two car team driven by brothers Phil and Benny Parsons.

In 1988, the team scored its first Winston Cup victory, with driver Phil Parsons taking the No. 55 Copenhagen Oldsmobile to victory lane in the Winston 500 at Talladega.

In 1990, Jackson went on to form his own team, Richard Jackson Motorsports. The 1994 season was highlighted when Jackson and driver Rick Mast won the pole position for the inaugural Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Drivers for the Richard Jackson Motorsports team include two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Terry Labonte, Rick Mast, Morgan Shepherd, Jerry Nadeau, and Lance Hooper.

In 1995, Jackson was the recipient of the Bobby Isaac Memorial Award, given to Richard in recognition of his contributions to short track racing.

Richard Jackson married his high school sweetheart, Karen Fox, on August 27th, 1956. They have one daughter, Lisa Jackson, who also drove for her dad from 1979 to 1982 at Hickory Motor Speedway, and Asheville Speedway, in the NASCAR Late Model Sportsman, and BGN divisions.

Richard Jackson is survived by his wife Karen of 53 years, brother Leo Jackson Jr., sisters Patricia Marshall and Gail Morgan, daughter Lisa Jackson, and grandchildren Jackson T. Young (21) and Emily S. Young (18).

A Celebration of Life for Richard Jackson will be held on Wednesday evening, June 2nd at Abernethy United Methodist Church, 1418 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC. Friends of Richard Jackson and the Jackson family will be received beginning at 6pm, and the service will begin at 7:00pm. Funeral arrangements will be assisted by Groce Funeral Home, 1401 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28806, phone number (828) 255-3535. Friends who wish to sign a guest book for the Jackson Family can do so by going to the following Web site www.grocefuneralhome.com and click on to Richard Jackson.

The Jackson family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina, www.ncwish.org 1293 Hendersonville Road, #1, Asheville, NC 28803, phone number (828) 274-9474, or to the Abernethy United Methodist Church Children and Youth Fund 1418 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28806, phone number (828) 254-2612.

- Legeman Sports Marketing Press Release