Jeffrey Clayton Collier (October 5, 1954 – June 28, 2021) was an American

race car driver Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organise ...

. He drove in the

NASCAR Dash Series The ISCARS Dash Touring Series (previously known as the NASCAR Baby Grand National, Goody's Dash Series and IPOWER Dash Series among others) was a stock car racing series created by NASCAR in 1973, initially running solely at North Wilkesboro Sp ...

from 1988 to 1994. On February 13, 1990, Collier sat on pole for the Florida 200 at

Daytona International Speedway Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR as well as its season opening event. In addition to NA ...

with a new track record of 166.553 mph. Collier was driving a 1990

Ford Probe The Ford Probe is a liftback coupé produced by Ford, introduced in 1988 and produced until 1997. The Probe was the result of Ford's collaboration with its longtime Japanese partner Mazda, and both generations of Probe were derived from the front ...

. This record is a World Closed Course Speed Record for non turbo 4-cylinder powered

race car Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organi ...

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and hi ...

ended the Dash Series in January, 2003 and the 1990 track record by Collier remains the fastest qualifying lap officially recorded for a NASCAR sanctioned event at any track for this Series. Unofficially, the Ford Probe driven by Collier was clocked at a private test session conducted by

Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company (commonly known as Ford) is an American multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. The company sells automobi ...

at Talladega International Speedway in January, 1992 at an average lap speed of 174.225 mph. The record setting car was on display in the International Motorsports Museum in

Talladega, Alabama Talladega (, also ) is the county seat of Talladega County, Alabama, United States. It was incorporated in 1835. At the 2020 census, the population was 15,861. Talladega is approximately east of one of the state’s biggest cities, Birmingham. ...

for one year in 1991. It was removed from the museum collection by its owner, Buddy Shavender of

Pantego, NC Pantego is a town in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 179 at the 2010 Census. Geography Pantego is located at (35.585917, -76.659755). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of ...

, put in race trim and with Collier at the wheel, again sat on pole at Daytona in 1992 for the Florida 200. After two Daytona poles, a NASCAR Dash Series record and a

World record A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organization ...

, the Ford Probe driven by Collier was retired from competition. The car is now housed in a private museum in Pantego, North Carolina. Jeffrey Clayton Collier, age 66, his loving wife Cindy, age 63, and friend Dwight Moss, age 65, were all killed in a car accident in Murfreesboro, NC on June 28, 2021. A highlight to his career, his car is scheduled to placed in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Date to be determined.

As an anecdote since knowing him on a personal level, Jeff was a warm and caring person who would go out of his way to help you, Rest In Peace!

References

Living people 1954 births Sportspeople from Raleigh, North Carolina Racing drivers from North Carolina ISCARS Dash Touring Series drivers NASCAR drivers {{NASCAR-stub