Tim Richmond blazed onto the NASCAR scene like a star in 1980. A bright, shining star that flamed out much too soon. His was a story right out of Hollywood. Young, cocky, wealthy, northerner comes down South to show the rubes how it's done. Men wanted to be him and women wanted to be with him.
Richmond finished 9th in the 1980 Indy 500
Richmond came to (then) Winston Cup full time in 1980 after finishing 9th in that year's Indy 500. From 1980 through 1982 he ran partial schedules for several owners, and had two victories and one pole. He drove for Blue Max Racing from 1983 through 1985. He earned two more wins and four poles during these three seasons.
Richmond's greatest year was 1986 in the Folger's Chevy owned by HMS
Richmond joined powerhouse owner Rick Hendrick in 1986. He was to have his career defining season that year. Seven wins, 13 top fives, 17 top tens, and 8 poles. He finished third in points that year, and had several memorable battles with, eventual champion, Dale Earnhardt. Fans were looking forward to years of these two going at it.
Tim Richmond contracted HIV over the winter of 1986. Wanting to keep his illness from NASCAR and the fans, Richmond claimed to have pneumonia. It was June of 1987 before he was able to get back in a race car. He won his first two starts that year, and only drove eight races before NASCAR said he was through. In February of 1988 Richmond planned on entering the Busch Clash at Daytona. NASCAR made him take their newly instituted drug test. Nothing was found in his system but over-the-counter cold meds, but NASCAR now demanded his entire medical records. Richmond said no, as HIV/Aids wasn't as socially accepted as now.
What could have been
Tim Richmond died in August of 1989 at 34 years of age, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Love him, or hate him, all who saw him race will agree he was a star.
