Lake Speed

Jackson, MS

Lake started racing in Go-Karts in the 1960's. In 1978, Lake won the "World Karting Association Championship". He made the move to NASCAR Winston Cup in 1980 and ran his first full season in 1981. Lake is a man with high standards and he never compromised those morals. Many times this put him at odds with some sponsors and others within the Winston Cup family. In 1988, Speed won the Transouth 500 at Darlington, SC becoming the only Mississippi native to win a NASCAR Nextel (Winston) Cup race. During his Winston Cup Series career, Lake recorded 402 starts, 1 win, 16 top five and 75 top ten finishes.

Lake and good friend Darrell Waltrip were actively involved in forming the Motor Racing Outreach in 1988. This christian ministry goes on the road and performs chapel services for the NASCAR Cup Series.

Picture donated by Tony Barker and John Roby

Pictures taken from the "Mississippi Sportsman Magazine" and the Bill Gupton Collection.

The only Mississippi native to win a NASCAR Nextel (Winston) Cup race.

Cliff Cargill email me to say that his grandfather, Thomas McWhirter was the scale man at J.I.S. in the late 70's and early 80's.  He died in 1988.  I was surfing around, clicked on Lake Speed's late model, and low and behold there he was standing in the backround! That's also his black camero that he's standing next to. It was used as the pace car from time to time at JIS.