Gene Tapia "The King of the Super Modifieds"

Gene Tapia was known as "The King of the Super Modifieds". He won one NASCAR championship, but then turned his back on the series, because he needed to race more than once a week.

Many short-track drivers, including Red Farmer, Donnie and Bobby Allison, and superstar, Marty Robbins, copied his style of racing. When Tapia and the legendary No. 327 supermodified hit the track, the other drivers knew they were in for a tough night.

Tapia won both the 1968 and ’69 World 300’s held at Mobile International Speedway, which were billed as “The World’s Richest Supermodified Race". When the checkered flag was given ending the 1969 race, Tapia was 9-laps ahead of the second-place car.