Tim Williamson (racing driver)

Tim Williamson
BornJanuary 13, 1956
Seaside, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 12, 1980(1980-01-12) (aged 23)
Riverside, California, U.S.
Cause of deathBasilar skull fracture and severe chest injuries sustained from 1980 Stock Car Products 300 crash
Awards1979 NASCAR Winston West Series Rookie of the Year
West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame (2011)
NASCAR Cup Series career
3 races run over 1 year
Best finish53rd (1979)
First race1979 Winston Western 500 (Riverside)
Last race1979 Los Angeles Times 500 (Ontario)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0
ARCA Menards Series West career
21 races run over 2 years
Best finish2nd (1979)
First race1978 Winston Stockton 100 (Stockton)
Last race1979 NAPA Arizona 250 (Phoenix)
First win1978 Winston Stockton 100 (Stockton)
Last win1979 Winston Roseville 100 (Roseville)
Wins Top tens Poles
2 16 4
Statistics up to date as of May 5, 2026.

Tim Williamson (January 13, 1956 – January 12, 1980) was an American professional stock car racing driver. A competitor in the NASCAR Winston West Series, he won rookie of the year in 1979. The following year, he was killed in a Grand American race at Riverside International Raceway just a day shy of his birthday.[1]

Racing career

Williamson competed in the Rose Classic at All American Speedway three times between 1976 and 1979, with a fifth place result in 1977.[2] He finished second in the 1978 Copper World Classic.[3] He competed in the NASCAR Grand American Stock Car National Championship between 1978 and 1980, although specific results are unknown.[4] He competed in at least five of six races in the International Drivers Challenge in 1978, finishing fifth or better in each.[5] Also in 1978, Williamson began competing in the NASCAR Winston West Series. In his first career start, coming at Stockton 99 Speedway, he started on pole and led all but one lap, scoring the win. He ran four more races that year, scoring another pole and two top-tens. He moved to competing full-time in the series in 1979, driving for his father Charles. In running full time, he competed in three NASCAR Winston Cup Series events that were in combination with the West Series, finishing ninth in his Cup debut. He finished in the top-ten in thirteen of sixteen races and scored a win at All American Speedway, ultimately finishing second in the points standings, five points behind Bill Schmitt, and winning rookie of the year.[6][7] Other series he competed in during 1979 included the Western States Open Competition Series, NASCAR Modified National Championship, where he competed at Daytona International Speedway,[8] and SCCA Trans-Am Championship.[4]

Death

On January 12, 1980, Williamson took part in the Stock Car Products 300 at Riverside International Raceway. He was attempting to make a pass on Glen Steurer in the esses when he lost control of his car and slammed broadside into the wall in turn six.[6] The impact shattered all the car's glass and left the car laying half off the track.[1] Williamson was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he died from a basilar skull fracture and severe chest injuries.[6] Williamson's parents were attending the race.[9] It was the first driver fatality at the track since Sonny Easley in 1978.[9]

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 NWCSC Pts Ref
1979 Williamson Racing 74 Chevy RSD
9 		DAY CAR RCH ATL NWS BRI DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS 53rd 320 [10]
29 RSD
26 		MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR ATL
10 Olds ONT
22
1980 Jerry Cracker 5 RSD
Wth 		DAY 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 144th NA [11]

Winston West Series

NASCAR Winston West 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 NWWC Pts Ref
1978 Williamson Racing 10 Chevy RSD AAS S99
1* 		SHA
17 		PET MMR
20 		RSD IFS YAK WSP LSP EVG POR CRS ASP SON
6 		SHA CBS YAK OSS ONT PHO
10 		32nd 117 [12]
1979 74 RSD
9 		2nd 743 [13]
10 Olds MMR
3 		EVG
8 		YAK
8 		POR
3 		AAS
1* 		SHA
3 		CRS
6 		SON
2* 		EVG
4 		SPO
7 		POR
5 		ASP
13 		PHO
4
29 Chevy RSD
26
10 ONT
22
1980 Jerry Cracker 5 Olds RSD
Wth 		ONT NA NA [14]
Williamson Racing 9 S99
Wth 		RSD LAG EVG POR SON MMR ONT PHO

References

  1. ^ a b "Rookie driver dies in crash". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. January 13, 1980. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  2. ^ "Tim Williamson – Rose Classic Results". The Third Turn. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  3. ^ "Tim Williamson – Copper World Classic Results". The Third Turn. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  4. ^ a b "Tim Williamson". The Third Turn. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  5. ^ "Tim Williamson – 1978 International Drivers Challenge Results". The Third Turn. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  6. ^ a b c "Tim Williamson". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  7. ^ "Williamson, 23, Is Killed In Stock-Car Racing Crash". The New York Times. January 13, 1980. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  8. ^ "NASCAR Modified:1979-01 Results". The Third Turn. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  9. ^ a b "NASCAR driver killed in race". Statesman Journal. January 13, 1980. p. 42. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  10. ^ "Tim Williamson – 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  11. ^ "Tim Williamson – 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  12. ^ "Tim Williamson – 1978 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  13. ^ "Tim Williamson – 1979 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  14. ^ "Tim Williamson – 1980 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
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