Ricky Knotts

Ricky Knotts
Born	Benny Richard Knotts (1951-05-23)May 23, 1951 Paw Paw, Michigan, United States
Died	February 14, 1980(1980-02-14) (aged 28) Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
Cause of death	Racing accident
Achievements	Red Bud 300 (1979)
Awards	Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame (2017)
NASCAR Cup Series career
3 races run over 2 years

Benny Richard Knotts (May 23, 1951 – February 14, 1980) was an American ASA and NASCAR Winston Cup driver. The Paw Paw, Michigan driver began his career in 1966 on Michigan short tracks and raced in various stock car series for 6 years before he died in a crash at Daytona in 1980.

ASA Wins

Knotts was a Michigan short-track racer who raced Late Models, and by the late 1970's participated in touring series. He won three American Speed Association events during his career, at Toledo Speedway, Winchester Speedway, and Anderson Speedway. The 1979 Anderson win came in the Red Bud 300, a major event for short track racing, now a Champion Racing Association Super Late Model major, where he led 58 laps, beating Midwestern short track legends Dick Trickle and Mike Eddy (who led 57 laps), and future NASCAR Cup Series race winners Jody Ridley (who led 98 laps) and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Mark Martin (who led 40 laps).

Cup Series Career

In 1979, The Knotts family purchased an Oldsmobile 442 race car, attempting to make Cup Series starts without any prior ARCA or Sportsman experience on the longer circuits. The car made attempts at Michigan and Charlotte at the National 500, failing to qualify for both.

Death

On February 14, 1980, Knotts was in the field for the first 125 mile heat race race at Daytona International Speedway, hoping to qualify for that Sunday's Daytona 500. His hopes dwindled as his Weaver powered Oldsmobile quickly lost position. On the 14th lap, Knotts hit the outside wall in the short chute just past the start finish line. His car spun off the track sideways across the infield grass and struck passenger side first against the inside concrete wall entering turn one. His seat mount broke and Knotts died instantly, aged 28. Knotts had never started any race at a mile circuit or longer.

Incidents like Knotts, and other incidents such as those that infiltrated Under current rules, Knotts would never have been allowed at Daytona in the 500, as he had never competed in a race at an intermediate track in any series (ARCA or Sportsman). Current rules require intermediate experience before being allowed to test at Daytona or Talladega in the preseason test required before a national series race, and drivers cannot participate in the Daytona 500 unless they have raced in any of the development potentially having to participate in the ARCA race first.

Honors

Knotts was inducted into the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. His daughter Toysa and her family were part of a November 2017 banquet celebrating his induction

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
1980	Richard Knotts	31	Olds	RSD	DAY DNQ	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	TWS	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	NWS	MAR	CLT	CAR	ATL	ONT	-	N/A

External links

• Ricky Knotts driver statistics at Racing-Reference