Phil Barkdoll - NASCAR Career

NASCAR Career

Barkdoll campaigned part-time on the NASCAR circuit from 1984 to 1997, relying on small sponsorships and free advertising to help pay for his racing. He has provided a ride for other drivers at other tracks. Phil began racing in 1981, with his first race coming in the 1984 Winston 500. After starting 16th, Phil finished a disappointing 35th after losing an engine on the 60th lap.

In 1987, Barkdoll had a spectacular accident heading into the tri-oval on the fourth lap during one of the Twin 125 mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500. He got airborne, flipped across the track and into the fence before sliding to a halt on his wheels.

In 1988, Phil was yet involved in another spectacular accident at Daytona, this time in the Daytona 500 itself. Coming off Turn 4 on the 106th circuit, Phil slightly tapped Richard Petty, which sent Petty tumbling down the track before being t-boned by Brett Bodine.

On the 144th lap of the 1989 Daytona 500, Phil took yet another wild ride. Barkdoll's Oldsmobile slid into the dirt embankment on the backstretch, and Phil's car ended up on his side.

In 1990, Phil campaigned a second car which was driven by Stan Barrett (Stanton Barrett's father) for the Daytona 500 and Phil Parsons during the Winston 500 and The Winston.

Phil had yet more trouble at the 1991 Daytona 500, and he went for a wild spin off Turn 4 and the car lifted off the ground and blew out the windshield. This time Phil landed on all four wheels and finished a respectable 20th.

Barkdoll's final Winston Cup points paying start came in 1992 in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. Phil finished 28th, four laps off the pace.

In 1993, Phil was diagnosed with cancer, and Stanley Smith drove his car in the Twin 125's at Daytona. Smith was eliminated in a first lap wreck with Steve Kinser, and did not make the field.

In 1994, Phil Barkdoll was back, but did not make the Daytona 500.

In 1995, Barkdoll had a strong run in the second qualifier in his #73 Ford, but it ended in a crash coming off turn 2.

Barkdoll's last attempt at Daytona as a driver was in 1997. That year, he qualified 25th fastest on pole qualifying day in his #73 Chevrolet. That speed was fast enough to earn the 38th starting position after he failed to finish in the top 15 of his Twin 125. However, SABCO Racing's #42 Bellsouth Chevrolet for Joe Nemechek failed to qualify for the race. Team owner Felix Sabates bought Barkdoll's #73 for Nemechek, leaving Barkdoll on the sidelines, but richer as a result.