McGriff, 81, is far from a novelty act

TOOELE — Hershel McGriff has reached an age where he has more mileage on his body than most of the cars he drives. But thoughts of retirement do not occupy the mind of the 81-year-old racer.

Far from it, McGriff is taking a new plunge into a sport that made him a legend.

McGriff became the oldest driver to take part in a NASCAR race when he competed in a NASCAR Camping World Series West race at Portland International Raceway two weeks ago. His participation in Portland turned out to be more than just a mere novelty act.

He finished 13th overall in a 26 car race and could have a realistic shot at moving up into a top 10 finish this Saturday at Miller Motorsports Park. The course at Tooele is the second of three road courses he will run in a limited schedule this year.

McGriff, who lives in a community of mostly retirees in Green Valley, Ariz., acknowledged he bucks the usual notion of what a person his age does with his spare time.

"I often wonder what they're going to say when I get in a home," McGriff said.

Making such an unheard-of comeback adds another page to a storied career for a driver who competed in the earliest days of the NASCAR series.

McGriff was one of the participants in the inaugural Southern 500 at Darlington Speedway in 1950. He drove a car he had used to win the Pan American Road Race in Mexico all the way from Portland, Ore., to South Carolina to compete in the race. He placed ninth overall in the race.

His racing career has spanned nearly six decades since that initial NASCAR race. During his time, he made 85 starts in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and earned four victories, five pole positions, 17 top five finishes and 31 top 10 finishes. He also won the 1986 NASCAR Winston West Series Championship — the predecessor to the current NASCAR Camping World Series West Series.

McGriff was eventually inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2006 in recognition of his storied career. But his proudest moment in racing came when he received the NASCAR award of excellence — an honor bestowed on just a select few drivers.

"That was really something because they appreciated all I had done over the years," McGriff said. "I've run Le Mans. I've been to Australia. Japan. Just supporting NASCAR."

Getting back behind the wheel of a stock car at Portland felt as good as slipping into a familiar article of clothing.

"Right after that race got going, I felt comfortable," McGriff said.