Billy Hagan (racing driver)

Billy Joe Hagan (March 22, 1932 – November 16, 2007) was a NASCAR owner/driver. He owned Hagan Racing and was known for winning the 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship with Terry Labonte.

Billy Hagan
Born	(1932-03-22)March 22, 1932 Lillie, Louisiana
Died	November 16, 2007(2007-11-16) (aged 75) Concord, North Carolina
NASCAR Cup Series career
3 races run over 3 years
Best finish	84th (1975)
First race	1969 Talladega 500 (Talladega)
Last race	1979 Texas 400 (Texas)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 1 0
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years	1981–1982
Teams	Stratagraph Inc.
Best finish	17th (1982)

Career

He made three starts in NASCAR's Grand National/Winston Cup division, finishing eighth in his first start, the inaugural Talladega 500 in a self-owned 1968 Mercury Cyclone. He did not field another car until 1975, finishing 19th once again at Talladega. He also fielded a car for five races for Skip Manning.

In 1976, he fielded the #92 Stratagraph Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna for Manning, and he won Rookie of the Year honors. Manning was released in 1978, and replaced by Terry Labonte. Hagan hired Petty Enterprises crew chief Dale Inman for the 1984 season.^[1] Labonte won the Southern 500, and won the 1984 championship. Labonte left the team in 1986, and was replaced by Sterling Marlin. Labonte returned to the team in 1991, but was unable to continue their success. 1994, marked Hagan's last season as a single car owner, fielding cars for John Andretti and Randy MacDonald. In 1996, his shop was purchased by Triad Motorsports. Hagan continued to serve as a co-owner of the operation until the team's demise in 1999.

In 1981 Hagan entered a Chevrolet Camaro stock car under the Stratagraph team name in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Powered by a modified 350-cubic-inch Chevrolet small block, the car qualified well enough in the IMSA GT class, but was sidelined by a crash caused by brake failure.^[2] Drivers were Billy Hagan, Cale Yarborough, and Bill Cooper; also listed by some sources was Bobby Mitchell. The following year, he came 17th at 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans, always on Camaro V8 350 inch Chevrolet small block (#81 team Stratagraph inc.), paired with Gene Felton. The other team car (#80 Camaro V8, Stratagraph inc.) arrives 19th.

Death

Hagan died on November 16, 2007, at the age of 75.

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.)

Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National 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	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	NGNC	Pts
1969	Billy Hagan Racing	52	Mercury	MGR	MGY	RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	CAR	AUG	BRI	ATL	CLB	HCY	GPS	RCH	NWS	MAR	AWS	DAR	BLV	LGY	CLT	MGR	SMR	MCH	KPT	GPS	NCF	DAY	DOV	TPN	TRN	BLV	BRI	NSV	SMR	ATL	MCH	SBO	BGS	AWS	DAR	HCY	RCH	TAL 8	CLB	MAR	NWS	CLT	SVH	AUG	CAR	JFC	MGR	TWS	NA	-

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
1975	Billy Hagan Racing	52	Chevy	RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL	NWS	DAR	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL 19	MCH	DAR	DOV	NWS	MAR	CLT	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL	ONT		84th	106
1978	Billy Hagan Racing	92	Chevy	RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	DOV	CLT	NSV	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	ONT DNQ		NA	-
1979	Henley Gray	19	Chevy	RSD	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	NWS	BRI	DAR	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	TWS 17	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	CLT	NWS	CAR	ATL	ONT	95th	112

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

(key)

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1981	Stratagraph Inc.	Cale Yarborough   Bill Cooper	Chevrolet Camaro	IMSA GTO	13	DNF	DNF
1982	Stratagraph Inc.	Gene Felton   Tom Williams	Chevrolet Camaro	IMSA GTO	269	17th	2nd

References

1. Houston, Rick (June 1, 2007). "Where is ... Dale Inman?". NASCAR. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
2. Sports Illustrated July 13, 1981

External links

• Billy Hagan driver statistics at Racing-Reference
• Billy Hagan owner statistics at Racing-Reference