TERRANCE L SCHOONOVER - 12/26/1951 - 11/11/1984
It had always been Schoonover's dream to run in the premier NASCAR circuit. He did some drag racing and running on short-tracks in Ohio. In the mid-1970s, Terry moved to Royal Palm Beach, Florida to chase his racing dream. He began competing on dirt and asphalt short-tracks throughout Florida in the mid-1970s. In 1982, Schoonover started his stock-car career at the Buck Baker driving school at Rockingham. The driver was talented, and Baker hired him to stay with the organization as a driving instructor. With a desire to race in Winston Cup, Schoonover and his girlfriend Barbara Pike purchased a Chevy Monte Carlo and found sponsorship from Restore Engine Restorer. He planned to compete for Rookie of the Year in Winston Cup in 1985. Terry made his Winston Cup debut at Rockingham Speedway in 1984, driving his own #42 Chevrolet home to a 21st place finish after starting 39th. The next race, at Atlanta Motor Speedway; only the second of his career; Schoonover started 36th and was working his way through the field nicely. Schoonover was driving, when on lap 129 he spun and struck a dirt bank on the inside of the back straightaway of the track. TBS cameras captured the wreck as he slid down the track and hit the inside dirt wall, coming to a quick stop. Behind the wreck, Bobby Hillin spun in avoidance and
nosed into the backstretch outside wall. Schoonover did not survive the accident. He died from massive head and internal injuries. An accident investigation found that the car performed well in the accident and the wreck was not caused by outside factors. He was the father of two children, Bryan and Angela back in Ohio. Bryan recalls that day... "I learned about it on the 11:00 news, me and my sister watched it. My mom had left to get my grandfather to tell us, but while she was gone we seen it on TV. I was
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