Dick Trickle, one of the last of the old time short track gunslingers is recuperating from some recent heart troubles. The 66 year old Trickle had been running a limited short track schedule in recent years. Earlier this month doctors found two blockages in Trickle's arteries. They performed some outpatient procedures and Trickle should fully recover. Not wanting to chance any internal injuries, Trickle has called off his racing schedule for this summer.

 

Trickle had his first NASCAR Cup start in 1970. He ran his first full Cup schedule in 1989 for Stavola Brothers Racing, and won the Rookie of the Year title that year at age 48.

His best Cup finish was third, four times. He also won a single pole postion in then Winston Cup during his career.

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Dick Trickle    c. 1998

He also raced in the NASCAR Busch Series. He had two Busch wins, and is still the oldest driver to win in that---now Nationwide---series. In 1998 he won a Busch race in Darlington at age 56.

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Dick Trickle is best remembered from the 1960s through the 1980s as the Purple, then the White Knight. Coming to a short track near you, kicking local ass, kissing the trophy girl, and leaving with the first place money. Some reports have put his feature win total at 1,200. That's pretty hard to swallow though.

The Purple Knight Dick Trickle

Trickle started, and won, his first race in 1958 at Stradford Speedway in his native Wisconsin. He raced in several different series over the years. He was a two time ASA champion, and was the series runner-up nine times. He also won over 60 ARTGO races and won that serie's title an amazing nine times.

A couple of blocked arteries won't keep Trickle sidelined for long. Even though he says he's not racing this year, don't be surprised to see him at a short track sooner rather than later. Hurry back Dick.