Greg Weld, founder of Weld Wheel Industries, R.I.P.

GREG Weld, the driving force behind Weld Racing, has passed away at the age of 64.

Weld began his career in sprint car races, winning over 100, including the 1963 Knoxville Nationals, the premiere event in sprint car racing, as well as the USAC National Sprint Car Championship at the age of 23.

After retiring from racing he founded Weld Wheel Industries in 1970, starting the business with $2,300 he’d saved from racing with the simple idea of making sprint car wheels that performed better. He went on to manufacture forged alloy wheels for various vehicles, including racecars, and was an active sponsor of the United States Auto Club series, NHRA and IHRA. In January 2007, Greg started a new company, Greg Weld Competition Wheels.

Weld was honored during his life and was inducted into numerous Halls of Fame including the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1998. “Greg Weld was a visionary in the Motorsports industry. He raced his way into the record books and into the hearts of many, but more than anything else, Greg Weld was a great friend and will be missed by everyone,” said Bob Baker, President of the Sprint Car Hall of Fame.

Weld leaves behind his wife Deb, former wife Marilyn Brockman-Weld, daughter Christian Weld-Brown and sons Taylor and Brock, as well as sisters Delores Wesley and Marilyn Burasco, and brother Ricky. Greg Weld is survived by his grandchildren Marin Brown, Sophia Brown, Spencer Brown, Harley Weld, Quinton Weld, Aiden Weld, Lola Weld and numerous nieces and nephews.

www.weldracing.com

This entry was posted on 07/08/2008 at 03:35 pm and is filed under Wheels. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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