Toby Tobias

For his son Richard Tobias Jr., see Toby Tobias Jr.
Toby Tobias
BornRichard Lincoln Tobias
February 12, 1932
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
DiedJune 23, 1978(1978-06-23) (aged 46)
Racing Accident
Flemington, New Jersey
Motorsport career
Debut season1950
Car number17
Championships7
Wins300+
Finished last season1978
Championship titles
1977 New York State Fair Champion[1]
1978 Tony Hulman Classic[2]
Awards
1970 USAC Rookie of the year
NASCAR Cup Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Best finish121st (1973)[3]
First race1973 Delaware 500 (Dover)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0

Dick “Toby” Tobias (February 12, 1932 – June 23, 1978) was an American stock car and sprint car racing driver from Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He revolutionized the dirt track modified stock car class by producing a chassis constructed of tubular steel.[4][5]

Racing career

Toby Tobias began his racing career in the early 1950's at the Hilltop Speedway in Pennsylvania.[6] He then spent the majority of his career racing in the sprint and modified divisions competing at the renowned tracks of the northeast, including the Nazareth Speedway and the Reading Fairgrounds Speedway in Pennsylvania, and the Flemington Speedway in New Jersey.[7][8] Tobias made just one appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series.[3]

In 1972, Tobias developed a workable home-built frame for his Modified that replaced the mid 50's Chevy frames rails that had been popular. The Tobias tube chassis soon was incorporated into the rules for the New York and Pennsylvania racing circuit, and remains the standard.[5][9]

Personal life

Toby Tobias was fatally injured in a USAC sprint car race at Flemington Speedway on June 23, 1978.[10] He was inducted into the Eastern Motorsports Press Association, the National Sprint Car and the Northeast Dirt Modified Halls of Fame.[5][9]

Tobias was followed into racing by his sons Ronnie, Scott, Toby Jr. and son-in-law Paul Lotier. Scott and Paul were severely and permanently injured in racing accidents, and Ronnie died of a heart attack while racing.[11] Grandson Paul Lotier Jr. later became the third generation involved in racing as co-owner of a sprint car.[2]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series results
Year Team 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 NWCC Pts Ref
1973 Noris Reed 83 Mercury RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV CLT DOV TWS RSD MCH DAY BRI ATL TAL NSV DAR RCH DOV
38 		NWS MAR CLT CAR 121st NA [12]

References

  1. ^ "Syracuse Mile". The Post-Standard. May 13, 1994. p. 119. Retrieved February 8, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
  2. ^ a b Murphy, Richie (June 8, 2019). "Tobias legacy rides on at Eastern Storm". FloSports. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Toby Tobias-NASCAR Cup Series". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "SuperDIRTcar Series History". World Racing Group. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "EMPA Hall of Fame – Toby Tobias". Eastern Motorsports Press Association. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  6. ^ "Tobias keeps rolling along". The Daily News. August 7, 1975. p. 12. Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Toby Tobias Career Results". The Third Turn. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  8. ^ "A friend is gone". The Daily Item. June 29, 1978. p. 25. Retrieved May 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Hall of Fame Inductees". National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  10. ^ "Tobias died instantly, autopsy reveals". The Morning Call. June 25, 1978. p. 59. Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Boyd, Lew (2017). Toby: The Star-Crossed Story of an American Racing Family. Coastal 181. ISBN 978-0998862521.
  12. ^ "Toby Tobias – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2023.