‘Iron Man’ Jack Ingram Passes Away at 84

by
Peter Stratta
June 25, 2021

Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Hall of Famer ‘Iron Man’ Jack Ingram Dead at 84

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion and renowned short-track talent Jack Ingram passed away Friday morning. The 2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee was 84 years old. Known by many as ‘Iron Man,’ Ingram will be remembered as one of the pioneering stars of the Late Model Sportsman and Busch Series. Both divisions are precursors to today’s Xfinity Series. Ingram won the inaugural Busch championship in 1982, and also a second title in 1985.

Jim France Statement

“There is no better way to describe Jack Ingram than ‘Iron Man,’” NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France said in a statement. “Jack was a fixture at short tracks across the Southeast most days of the week, racing anywhere and everywhere. He dominated the Late Model Sportsman division like few others.

“He set the bar for excellence in the Xfinity Series as its Most Popular Driver in 1982 and champion in 1985. Jack was an ‘old school racer’ and his work on his own car helped propel him to Victory Lane hundreds of times.

“Of our current 58 NASCAR Hall of Fame members, he is one of only six that was elected based on his career and contributions in the grassroots level of our sport. On behalf of the France family and NASCAR, I offer my condolences to the friends and family of NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Ingram.”

Ingram’s Career Highlights

Ingram owns over 300 career feature wins on short tracks throughout the south. Hailing from Avery’s Creek, N.C., Ingram also won titles in NASCAR’s Late Model Sportsman Division in 1972-1974.

In the NASCAR Busch Series (now Xfinity) Ingram won 31 times, which is still sixth most all-time. By far Ingram’s most successful venue was North Carolina’s Hickory Motor Speedway, where he won eight times. Between his two Xfinity Series titles, Ingram and his self-owned No. 11 car also finished second twice to Sam Ard.

Ingram also had 19 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series over the span of 20 seasons. His best result in the Cup Series was a runner-up at Hickory in 1967 to Richard Petty. This was in the midst of Petty’s 10-straight wins.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame inducted Ingram in 2014. He is also a member of the NMPA Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

In total, Ingram’s Xfinity Series career boasts 31 wins, 164 top-10s, and five poles in 275 starts. While he had a reputation as a short-track master, Ingram also won at Darlington and the Milwaukee Mile.

The only drivers with more Xfinity Series wins than Ingram currently are Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, and Carl Edwards. In the days before Mark Martin and Kyle Busch’s dominance, Ingram was the gold standard for the Xfinity Series. Ingram also retired as the Xfinity Series’ wins leader in 1991. His record stood until Martin bested it in 1997.