Tim Williamson (January 13, 1956 – January 12, 1980) was an American professional stock car racing driver. A competitor in the NASCAR Winston West Series, he won rookie of the year in 1979. The following year, he was killed in a Grand American race at Riverside International Raceway just a day shy of his birthday.
Racing career Williamson competed in the Rose Classic at All American Speedway three times between 1976 and 1979, with a fifth place result in 1977. He finished second in the 1978 Copper World Classic. He competed in the NASCAR Grand American Stock Car National Championship between 1978 and 1980, although specific results are unknown. He competed in at least five of six races in the International Drivers Challenge in 1978, finishing fifth or better in each. Also in 1978, Williamson began competing in the NASCAR Winston West Series. In his first career start, coming at Stockton 99 Speedway, he started on pole and led all but one lap, scoring the win. He ran four more races that year, scoring another pole and two top-tens. He moved to competing full-time in the series in 1979, driving for his father Charles. In running full time, he competed in three NASCAR Winston Cup Series events that were in combination with the West Series, finishing ninth in his Cup debut. He finished in the top-ten in thirteen of sixteen races and scored a win at All American Speedway, ultimately finishing second in the points standings, five points behind Bill Schmitt, and winning rookie of the year. Other series he competed in during 1979 included the Western States Open Competition Series, NASCAR Modified National Championship, where he competed at Daytona International Speedway, and SCCA Trans-Am Championship.
Death On January 12, 1980, Williamson took part in the Stock Car Products 300 at Riverside International Raceway. He was attempting to make a pass on Glen Steurer in the esses when he lost control of his car and slammed broadside into the wall in turn six. The impact shattered all the car's glass and left the car laying half off the track. Williamson was taken to Riverside Community Hospital, where he died from a basilar skull fracture and severe chest injuries. Williamson's parents were attending the race. It was the first driver fatality at the track since Sonny Easley in 1978.
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.)
Winston Cup Series NASCAR Winston Cup Series resultsYearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031PtsRef1979Williamson Racing74ChevyRSD9DAYCARRCHATLNWSBRIDARMARTALNSVDOVCLTTWS53rd32029RSD26MCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHBRIDARRCHDOVMARCLTNWSCARATL10OldsONT221980Jerry Cracker5RSDWthDAYRCHCARATLBRIDARNWSMARTALNSVDOVCLTTWSRSDMCHDAYNSVPOCTALMCHBRIDARRCHDOVNWSMARCLTCARATLONT144thNA
Winston West Series NASCAR Winston West Series resultsYearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819202122PtsRef1978Williamson Racing10ChevyRSDAASS991*SHA17PETMMR20RSDIFSYAKWSPLSPEVGPORCRSASPSON6SHACBSYAKOSSONTPHO1032nd117197974RSD92nd74310OldsMMR3EVG8YAK8POR3AAS1*SHA3CRS6SON2*EVG4SPO7POR5ASP13PHO429ChevyRSD2610ONT221980Jerry Cracker5OldsRSDWthONTNANAWilliamson Racing9S99WthRSDLAGEVGPORSONMMRONTPHO
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