Ernie Derr
Born(1921-10-29)October 29, 1921
Donnellson, Iowa[1]
DiedJanuary 8, 2014(2014-01-08) (aged 92)
Keokuk, Iowa
Achievements
  • 12x IMCA Stock Car champion (1953, 1959-1962, 1965-1971)
  • 328x IMCA race winner
Awards
NASCAR Cup Series career
1 race run over 1 year
First race1953 Race No. 25 (Davenport)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0

Ernest Vigil Derr (October 29, 1921 – January 8, 2014) was an American stock car racing driver. He won 12 International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) Stock Car championships, made one start in the NASCAR Grand National Series, and won eleven ARCA Racing Series races. Along with Dick Hutcherson, Ramo Stott and Don White, Derr was a member of the "Keokuk Komets", a collection of racing drivers from Keokuk, Iowa.

Racing career

After watching brother-in-law Don White race in the late 1940s, Derr began his racing career in 1950.[4] Earning his reputation mainly on half-mile dirt tracks, Derr won his first International Motor Contest Association championship in 1953, and won four consecutive IMCA championships between 1959 and 1962.[4] He also ran one NASCAR Grand National Series race in 1953, at Davenport, and dabbled in the ARCA Racing Series (then the Midwest Association for Race Cars), notching six wins in 1955 and eleven career wins.[5] He picked up factory backing from General Motors in 1963, but switched to Chrysler support the following year and stuck with them through 1970.[4] Derr also claimed seven consecutive IMCA championships from 1965 to 1971.[4] During his later years, Derr transitioned more to USAC Stock Car racing.[6]

He retired from racing after the 1977 season, running his last race at Knoxville Raceway. He said that his only regret in racing was not running more NASCAR races during the sport's formative years.[4] At the end of his career, Derr had 328 IMCA wins, a record that stood until 2005.[7]

Personal life

Derr served in the 6th Armored Division during World War II.[8] Before racing full-time, Derr was an automotive parts worker.[9] After retiring from racing, Derr became a property manager in Keokuk, Iowa.[4] His son Mike was also an IMCA racer,[5] and at the time of his death, Ernie had been married to his wife Marianna for 67 years.[7] He died at his home on January 8, 2014.[10]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year Owner 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 NGNC Pts Ref
1953 Ernie Derr Olds PBS DAB HAR NWS CLT RCH CCS LAN CLB HCY MAR PMS RSP LOU FFS LAN TCS WIL MCF PIF MOR ATL RVS LCF DAV
11		 HBO AWS PAS HCY DAR CCS LAN BLF WIL NWS MAR ATL N/A N/A [11]

References

  1. ↑ "Ernest V. Derr Obituary". DeJong-Greaves Celebration of Life Centers. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  2. ↑ Cameron, Brad (July 23, 2018). "Derr inducted into Mopar Hall of Fame". Mississippi Valley Publishing. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Iowa Motorsports Legends Named to Initial Hall of Fame". KNIA-KRLS. February 7, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Grett, Wayne. "Ernie Derr". Des Moines Register. Gannett. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Ackerman, Lee (September 3, 2018). "Gallery: When Ernie Derr Ruled the IMCA Stock Car Series". Mopar Connection Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Ernie Derr". Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Funeral services are Jan. 13 for Ernie Derr". International Motor Contest Association. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ernie Derr, 92". Speed Sport. January 11, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  9. ↑ "How do so many hot-shots originate from the same city?". Globe-Gazette. Newspapers.com. August 16, 1961. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  10. ↑ Cameron, Brad (January 9, 2014). "Keokuk racing legend Ernie Derr dies at 92". Mississippi Valley Publishing. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Driver Ernie Derr 1953 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
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