Dick “Toby” Tobias (February 12, 1932 – June 23, 1978) was an American

stock car Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing run on oval tracks and road courses measuring approximately . It originally used production-model cars, hence the name "stock car", but is now run using cars specifically built for racing. It ori ...

and

sprint car Sprint cars are high-powered open-wheel race cars, designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular primarily in the United States and Canada, as well as in Australia, New ...

racing driver from Lebanon, PA. He revolutionized the dirt track modified stock car class by producing a chassis constructed of tubular steel.

Racing career

Toby Tobias began his racing career in the early 1950's at the Hilltop Speedway in Pennsylvania. He then spent the majority of his career racing in the sprint and modified divisions competing at the renowned tracks of the northeast, including

Nazareth Speedway Nazareth Speedway was an auto racing facility near Nazareth in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania which operated from 1910 to 2004 in two distinct course configurations. In its early years, it was a dirt twin oval layout. In 1987 it was reo ...

PA,

Reading Fairgrounds Speedway Reading Fairgrounds Speedway (1924–1979) was a one half mile dirt/clay modified race track located in Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. The track opened September 24, 1924 and ran until June 29, 1979. It featured a regular wee ...

PA, and

Flemington Speedway Flemington Speedway was a motor racing circuit in Flemington, New Jersey which operated from 1915 to 2002. The track was once known for being the fastest 5/8 dirt track in the United States. Early history Flemington Speedway was created as a ...

NJ. Tobias made just one appearances in the

NASCAR Cup Series The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, and from 1950 to 1970 it was known as the Grand National Division. In 1971, ...

. In 1972, Tobias developed a workable homebuilt frame for his Modified that replaced the mid 50's Chevy frames rails that had been popular. The Tobias tube chassis soon was incorporated into the rules for the New York and Pennsylvania racing circuit, and remains the standard.

Personal life

Toby Tobias was fatally injured in a USAC sprint car race at Flemington Speedway on June 23, 1978. He was inducted into the Eastern Motorsports Press Association, the National Sprint Car and the Northeast Dirt Modified Halls of Fame. Tobias was followed into racing by his sons Ronnie, Scott, Toby Jr. and son-in-law Paul Lotier. Scott and Paul were severely and permanently injured in racing accidents, and Ronnie died of a heart attack while racing.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(

key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (map ...

) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. ''Italics'' – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Cup Series

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tobias, Toby 1932 births 1978 deaths NASCAR drivers USAC Silver Crown Series drivers Racing drivers who died while racing Racing drivers from Pennsylvania