HERB NAB - 04/01/1927 - 10/29/1988
Nab came from Portland, Oregon and moved east with NASCAR west coast driver Bill Amick when Amick got a ride with Ford. A squat figure, who usually was hanging over the fender of a stock car, Herb Nab helped several of NASCARs top teams find success. Nabs first measure of fame was to come in Ford Motor Companys factory-backed Holman-Moody team of the 1960s. Nab led driver Fred Lorenzen to NASCARs first $100,000 season in 1963. They made 25 starts, collected six wins and 21 top fives, finishing third in points. In 1964 they made only 16 starts, and won eight times. In 1965 Nab moved from working for Holman-Moody; to work with owner/driver Junior Johnson. That year Johnson won 12 times in 33 starts. Johnson retired from full time racing at the end of that season, and would only make seven more Cup starts. Darel Dieringer would win once in 1967 at North Wilkesboro. In 1969 Nab was the winning crew chief for the Daytona 500 with Leeroy Yarborough. He would also win the World 600, and the Southern 500 as part of his seven wins that year. They only raced 17 event in 1970, but they would get a win at Charlotte. In 1972, Nab worked with Bobby Allison and they claimed ten wins, including the Southern 500; but finished second in points. Cale Yarborough came on board to drive for Johnson in 1973. Yarborough won four times, again claiming the Southern 500; and again finished second in points. 1974 saw them pair up for ten wins; and for the
third year in a row won the Southern 500; and would again finish second in points. 1976 Nab led Yarborough to nine wins. The season was a good one as they won nine times, including four in a row. They finally broke through and claimed the Cup Championship. In 1977 Yarborough would win the Daytona 500 and the Cup Championship again. In 1978 Nab moved to work for Harry Ranier and driver Lennie Pond. Pond would win at Talladega in an exciting race. Buddy Baker would drive for Ranier the following year and go to the winners circle three times. Those wins came at Atlanta, Michigan and Martinsville. In 1980 Nab moved to Kennie Childers and his driver Donnie Allison. They only had 13 starts, and filed to win; having a best finish of third. Nab only worked three races in 1981; those also with Allison. His final stint came in 1988 when he worked with Buddy Baker for seven races with three top tens. He led his drivers to 74 wins; including such major wins as World 600 (1962, 1963, 1969); Daytona 500 (1965); Southern 500 (1969, 1972, 1973, 1974). He also has two championships, 1976, 1977 and 64 poles.
All Photos copyright and are property of their respective owners