Samuel McQuagg, Sr.

**Admin** Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:08 pm

Samuel David McQuagg, Sr.
"Sam"

Sam was born November 11, 1935 at his parents home in Columbus, Georgia. He saw his first race at the old Columbus Speedway on South Lumpkin Road. He started his racing career in a 1934 Ford Five Window Coupe #OJR at Auburn Opelika Speedway in 1956. He then drove for several car owners such as, L. A. Renfroe, Laverne Kindricks, and Jimmy Thomas. His best year in racing was 1963 when he and Jimmy Thomas built 1934 Ford Sedan powered by a DeSota engine. Out of 39 races ran that year, they won 37. With this success, Jimmy and Sam built a 1963 Ford from a burned hull for the 1964 NASCAR Grand National Circuit. They had raving success until Mrs. Betty Lilly of Valdosta, Georgia sponsored Sam for the 1965 season. With a brand new Holmon and Moody Ford, Sam became “Rookie of the Year” in 1965.

In 1966 he drove for Ray Nichels out of Indiana and won the 1966 Firecracker 400 in Daytona, Florida. In 1967, Sam was very successful driving for Cotton Owens. He left NASCAR Grand National racing during that year but continued on short tracks until a bad wreck at Brunswick, Georgia made his employer ask Sam to retire completely.

Sam was the charter pilot for the parent company of W. C. Bradley about thirty years. He retired and he and his wife, Joy, lived in Columbus, Georgia until his death in 2009. Sam had two sons, Sam Jr; and Mark.