Former NASCAR driver Gary Myers, a member of a four-generation racing family, has died at age 76, his family announced Friday.
The news prompted emotional tributes from relatives and members of the motorsports community who remembered Myers as a competitor, mentor and family patriarch.
Myers was the son of auto racing pioneer Billy Myers, continuing a racing legacy that stretched across decades and several generations.
His sons, Burt and Jason Myers, followed him into stock car racing. His grandson, Slate Myers, began his own racing career in 2024.
Burt Myers shared the news on Facebook, describing his father as his hero and saying Gary had endured a difficult final period.
“Last night I lost my hero,” Burt wrote. “He fought so hard but was so tired.”
Burt added that his father was now at peace and could finally do the things he had wanted to do during his final years.
Jason Myers also honored his father in a statement posted by his racing team.
“Last night we lost our patriarch,” Jason wrote. “Gary was my best friend. He taught Burt and me everything we know and touched so many people along the way.”
Jason said his father’s influence reached far beyond racing, adding that Gary was loved by everyone who knew him.
Myers competed at the highest levels of stock car racing during a career that included NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series, the Grand National East Series and the Featherlite Modified Tour.
He made his Winston Cup debut in 1974 at the Yankee 400.
Myers went on to compete in 47 career Winston Cup races, appearing during an era when NASCAR’s premier division featured some of the sport’s most established names.
While his national-series career brought recognition, Myers also built a lasting reputation on the short-track circuit.
He was a founding member of the SMART Modified Tour and became one of its most successful competitors.
Myers won 15 races on the tour and captured the series championship in 1996.
His accomplishments helped establish the family name in modified racing, where technical skill, consistency and experience were essential to success.
The family’s racing history continued through Burt and Jason, both of whom became respected stock car drivers in their own right.
Slate Myers’ entry into racing has added another generation to the family’s legacy, preserving the connection created by Billy Myers and carried forward by Gary.
Gary’s relatives remembered him not only for his record but also for the guidance he provided away from the track, per the Daily Mail.
His sons described him as a teacher and confidant whose influence shaped their careers and personal lives.
The family did not immediately announce funeral arrangements.
Tributes are expected to continue across regional short-track racing and the broader NASCAR community as competitors and fans remember Myers’ contributions.
Gary Myers leaves behind a racing legacy defined by competition, family and a lasting commitment to motorsports.
