Leonard Earle Wood (born September 22, 1934) is a former NASCAR crew chief, engine builder and co-founder of Wood Brothers Racing.[1] Considered the innovator of the modern pit stop, Wood's team is recognized as the first to record a 25-second four-tire pit stop in NASCAR history.[2] During his tenure as crew chief, the Wood team won 96 races with 117 poles clinched.[3]
Wood was born on September 22, 1934, on a family farm near Stuart, Virginia as one of six children (five sons and one daughter),[4] and began building vehicles when he built a wagon with logs for wheels, which is intended to roll downhill. When he was 13, Wood placed a washing machine engine on a go-kart frame and used various pulleys and chains from salvaged vehicles at his father's shop to propel the vehicle, which was able to reach a top speed of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). The go-kart is currently on display in Stuart's Wood Brothers Museum.[1] In high school, Wood learned to build an engine from watching his father, Walter, disassemble the engine from the team's car and successfully rebuild it.[3]
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In 1950, Wood and two of his brothers, Glen and Delano, purchased a 1940 Ford, which was later modified and used in NASCAR,[1] and the team made its first start in a Lincoln at Martinsville Speedway on May 17, 1953.[5] Wood was the team's engine builder, and the team's pit crew, originally composed of family and friends,[6] became the first team in NASCAR history to record a 25-second four-tire pit stop.[2] Wood stated that in 1960 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, he noticed that Fireball Roberts', had the lead at the time, pit crew took 45 seconds to change two tires and fuel; Roberts' team was using a four-prong lug wrench, so Wood's team decided to use power wrenches, which cut down the time to 25 seconds.[7] Wood later modernized the floor jack; originally, jacks weighed between 70 and 80 pounds, and required at least ten pumps for tire clearance. Wood disassembled the jacks and installed larger pistons, leading to only two to three pumps to clear.[3] In 1965, Wood's team was hired by Jim Clark to pit for him in the 1965 Indianapolis 500, which went on to win.[8] The team used a modified fuel can to make the gas flow faster.[9]
In 2006, Wood was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. On May 23, 2012, Wood was named as one of the members of the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees, and was inducted on February 8, 2013. Wood earned 57 percent of the votes, tied with Herb Thomas.[10] At the 2012 Brickyard 400, Wood Brothers Racing honored Wood with a special paint scheme with candy apple red instead of metal-flake red, which the team switched to in 1971, and Wood's head shot on the hood.[11]
leonard, wood, racing, leonard, earle, wood, born, september, 1934, former, nascar, crew, chief, engine, builder, founder, wood, brothers, racing, considered, innovator, modern, stop, wood, team, recognized, first, record, second, four, tire, stop, nascar, his. Leonard Earle Wood born September 22 1934 is a former NASCAR crew chief engine builder and co founder of Wood Brothers Racing 1 Considered the innovator of the modern pit stop Wood s team is recognized as the first to record a 25 second four tire pit stop in NASCAR history 2 During his tenure as crew chief the Wood team won 96 races with 117 poles clinched 3 Leonard WoodBornLeonard Earle Wood 1934 09 22 September 22 1934 age 89 Stuart Virginia U S NationalityAmericanOccupation s Crew chief engine builderOrganizationWood Brothers Racing Contents 1 Early life 2 NASCAR 3 Awards 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editWood was born on September 22 1934 on a family farm near Stuart Virginia as one of six children five sons and one daughter 4 and began building vehicles when he built a wagon with logs for wheels which is intended to roll downhill When he was 13 Wood placed a washing machine engine on a go kart frame and used various pulleys and chains from salvaged vehicles at his father s shop to propel the vehicle which was able to reach a top speed of 25 miles per hour 40 km h The go kart is currently on display in Stuart s Wood Brothers Museum 1 In high school Wood learned to build an engine from watching his father Walter disassemble the engine from the team s car and successfully rebuild it 3 NASCAR editIn 1950 Wood and two of his brothers Glen and Delano purchased a 1940 Ford which was later modified and used in NASCAR 1 and the team made its first start in a Lincoln at Martinsville Speedway on May 17 1953 5 Wood was the team s engine builder and the team s pit crew originally composed of family and friends 6 became the first team in NASCAR history to record a 25 second four tire pit stop 2 Wood stated that in 1960 at Charlotte Motor Speedway he noticed that Fireball Roberts had the lead at the time pit crew took 45 seconds to change two tires and fuel Roberts team was using a four prong lug wrench so Wood s team decided to use power wrenches which cut down the time to 25 seconds 7 Wood later modernized the floor jack originally jacks weighed between 70 and 80 pounds and required at least ten pumps for tire clearance Wood disassembled the jacks and installed larger pistons leading to only two to three pumps to clear 3 In 1965 Wood s team was hired by Jim Clark to pit for him in the 1965 Indianapolis 500 which went on to win 8 The team used a modified fuel can to make the gas flow faster 9 In 2006 Wood was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame On May 23 2012 Wood was named as one of the members of the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees and was inducted on February 8 2013 Wood earned 57 percent of the votes tied with Herb Thomas 10 At the 2012 Brickyard 400 Wood Brothers Racing honored Wood with a special paint scheme with candy apple red instead of metal flake red which the team switched to in 1971 and Wood s head shot on the hood 11 Awards editHe was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2000 along with his brother Glen 12 References edit a b c Aumann Mark 2012 01 10 Wood s impact on NASCAR felt to this day NASCAR Retrieved 2012 12 20 a b Leonard Wood leads new NASCAR Hall class The Roanoke Times 2012 05 24 Archived from the original on 2013 02 01 Retrieved 2012 12 20 a b c Wood could do anything with a race car NASCAR 2013 01 09 Retrieved 2013 03 31 Crystal s Christmas Ornaments Evoke Precious Wood Family Memories Wood Brothers Racing 2010 12 16 Archived from the original on 2010 12 22 Retrieved 2012 12 20 Iacobelli Pete 2013 05 26 Wood Brothers hit NASCAR milestone The Denver Post Retrieved 2013 05 26 Zimmerman Jenny 2001 06 06 Know Your NASCAR The Woods NASCAR Archived from the original on 2002 02 13 Retrieved 2012 12 20 Menzer Joe 2011 01 07 Evolution of the pit stop NASCAR Archived from the original on 2011 01 08 Retrieved 2012 12 20 Leonard Wood has NASCAR Hall of Fame credentials Fox Sports 2012 05 23 Retrieved 2012 12 20 Fryer Jenna 2013 02 07 Wallace and famed car Midnight headed into Hall Yahoo Sports Retrieved 2013 02 11 White Rea 2012 05 24 Wallace Wood among 2013 Hall class Fox Sports Retrieved 2012 12 20 Brian De Los Santos 2012 07 26 Wood Brothers to honor Leonard Wood with special paint scheme at Brickyard CBS Sports Retrieved 2012 12 20 Wood Brothers at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of AmericaExternal links editNASCAR bio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leonard Wood racing amp oldid 1168626108, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
