Gene Felton

One of IMSA’s all-time champions. Ex-U. S. Marines captain had his first taste of racing on motorcycles (and won a championship) while stationed at Okinawa in 1959. Began road racing in SCCA competition in 1964 with a BMW 700, Now has 46 IMSA wins on his lengthy resume; 25 in Kelly American Challenge series, 11 in Camel GTO, 8 in Champion Spark Plug Challenge, 2 in GT class. Also won the first SCCA Trans-Am he ever entered, and has 2 SCCA Escort Endurance series wins. Career stats include 73 pole qualifying spots with 63 qualifying track records. Has also raced in NASCAR Modifieds and Grand National. Multiple championships in Southeastern Mini-Stock competition on both pavement and dirt. Class pole and 2nd place finish at 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans. Helped develop Chevrolet’s new V-6 engine in 1981. 4 consecutive IMSA Kelly American Challenge championships between 1977-80. 1984 GTO class winner at 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring with Terry Labonte. Suffered severe injuries in a 1984 Trans-Am crash at Riverside but still finished 2nd in season points despite missing 70 days or half the season. Now owns Gene Felton Restorations, restores ex-Winston Cup cars for Vintage racing, where he has 102 race wins and 9 season championships. 1996-2003 President of Historic Stock Car Racing Group. Nominated to International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2003 and 2005; inducted into Georgia Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2005.