Sports

Glen Wood, co-founder of NASCAR's legendary Wood Brothers Racing, dies at 93

Glen Wood (Source: NASCAR Hall of Fame)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR legend and Hall of Fame driver and owner Glen Wood has died. He was 93. Wood was the co-founder of the legendary Wood Brothers Racing Team.

The team announced Wood's death Friday morning on social media.

Wood raced as a driver in NASCAR from 1950 to 1963 before turning his focus to the team he co-founded with brother Leonard. Wood Brothers Racing is NASCAR’s longest running team and has amassed 99 victories; the latest by Ryan Blaney at Pocono in 2017.

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Wood had attended every Daytona 500 in NASCAR history up until last year, when the then 92-year-old opted to stay home with concerns of catching a deadly flu strain that was sweeping the country at the time.

Going into 2019, the Wood Brothers are looking to Paul Menard to pick up win number 100 for the team. Menard is entering his second year with the team and joins a list of drivers that includes both legends and upstarts who span the history of the sport.

In 62 career starts, Wood won four races and finished in the top 10 34 times.

Wood was voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2013, he was joined by his brother Leonard in the Hall.

NASCAR CEO and Chairman Jim France released the following statement:

"In every way, Glen Wood was an original. In building the famed Wood Brothers Racing at the very beginnings of our sport, Glen laid a foundation for NASCAR excellence that remains to this day. As both a driver and a team owner, he was, and always will be, the gold standard. But personally, even more significant than his exemplary on-track record, he was a true gentleman and a close confidant to my father, mother and brother. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I send my condolences to the entire Wood family for the loss of a NASCAR giant."

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