Before Tim Richmond died, his last NASCAR race win was at the
now-defunct Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California in
1986.
First Nascar win: Riverside International Raceway, Riverside,
California, June 13, 1982
Tim Richmond was one of NASCAR's most flamboyant drivers. The 1980 Indy
500 Rookie of the Year had converted to stock cars by 1981 and was a
winner by 1982. From 1983-1985 Tim drove the #27 Old Milwaukee Pontiac
for NHRA Funny Car Champion Raymond Beadle and his Blue Max Team. In
1986 Tim left Beadle for Rick Hendrick's #25 Folger's Chevy (crew
chiefed by the legendary Harry Hyde) and over the final 17 races won 7
races and 7 poles to finish a strong 3rd in points. During the off
season doctors had mistaken Tim's AIDS for pneumonia and while
recovering missed the first 3 months of the 1987 season. Like something
out of Hollywood in his return Tim won his first 2 races back only to
be dragged down by the virus in August and having to leave the sport.
One of NASCAR's greatest talents, AIDS claimed Tim in August of 1989.
Last Nascar win: Riverside International Raceway, Riverside,
California, June 21, 1987
Out of all of the NASCAR tracks he loved, his favorites were Riverside
International Raceway in Moreno Valley, California (closed in 1989 for
a shopping mall), and Pocono Raceway in Pocono, Pennsylvania.