Two drivers were tragically killed in racing and testing accidents while driving for the legendary Bud Moore Engineering NASCAR race team
Both fatalities occurred within a devastating 12-month span in the mid-1960s
1. Joe Weatherly (January 19, 1964)
- The Accident: Joe Weatherly, the two-time defending NASCAR Grand National champion, was killed during the season-opening Motor Trend 500 road race at Riverside International Raceway in California.
- The Cause: Weatherly’s No. 8 Bud Moore Mercury suffered a total brake failure entering Turn 6. The car slid and slammed driver-side first into a concrete retaining wall.
- Safety Factors: Weatherly famously preferred comfort and refused to wear a shoulder harness. Because NASCAR did not yet require window nets, his head went out the window upon impact and struck the wall, causing fatal head injuries.
2. Billy Wade (January 5, 1965)
- The Accident: Following Weatherly’s death, Bud Moore hired Billy Wade (the 1963 NASCAR Rookie of the Year) and changed the car number to No. 1. Less than a year later, Wade was killed during a private Goodyear tire test at Daytona International Speedway.
- The Cause: Wade’s car suffered a tire blowout at high speed, causing him to crash violently into the track’s wall. The impact killed him instantly.
The Impact on the Team
These back-to-back tragedies deeply devastated team owner Bud Moore, a decorated World War II combat veteran who was already highly sensitive to loss. The grief nearly drove him to quit racing entirely before he ultimately resolved to push forwar