Sam McQuagg, the 1965 NASCAR Rookie of the Year, died Saturday, his son said. He was 73.
Preliminary medical reports show McQuagg died from cancer.
McQuagg began racing in the 1950s and entered his first NASCAR race in 1962.
His son remembered his father’s racing career as something that seemed normal to McQuagg Jr. and his brother.
“We both grew up around racing,” McQuagg Jr. said. “It was how Daddy supported us when we were kids.”
McQuagg made his Cup Series debut on Aug. 25, 1962, at Valdosta (Ga.) Speedway. He started ninth and finished 12th in the 13-car field.
He earned top rookie honors in 1965 with two top-five finishes and five top-10s in 14 starts.
McQuagg had one win in 62 career starts—the Firecracker 400 on July 4, 1966, at Daytona International Speedway. His final race was the World 600 on May 26, 1974, at Charlotte Motor Speedway; he finished 32nd.
McQuagg ended his career with one win, nine top-five finishes and 21 top-10s.
McQuagg was inducted into the Jacksonville (Fla.) Speedway Hall of Fame and the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame Association.
