Nord Krauskopf | |
---|---|
![]() Mr. and Mrs. Krauskopf at the K&K Insurance offices. They managed and marketed a benevolent fund for NASCAR drivers before, during, and after his ownership career. | |
Born | January 26, 1922
Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S. |
Died | August 3, 1986
[1]
Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S. |
Occupation | NASCAR team owner/ businessman |
Known for | One of the first NASCAR Cup Series owners to become a millionaire |
Spouse | Theodora [2] |
Nord Krauskopf (January 26, 1922 – August 3, 1986) was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race car owner whose career spanned from 1966 to 1977. [1] He was the owner of K&K Insurance and a part of the business since its foundation in 1952. [3] This was a position that he kept in the corporate world while having a second career in the motorsports industry as a car owner. This dual role lasted until the 1970s when he left the NASCAR circuit to focus on running his insurance company. [4] His team would field mostly Dodge Chargers and Dodge Daytonas to the Cup Series races. [5]
He was known for employing veteran NASCAR drivers like Bobby Allison, Charlie Glotzbach, Bobby Isaac, Sam McQuagg, and Dave Marcis. [1] Krauskopf has seen his drivers participate in 345 races with 43 victories (first victory at the 1968 Columbia 200 – last victory at the 1976 Dixie 500), 171 finishes in the "top five," and 214 finishes in the "top ten. [1]" These drivers also managed to lead 15,705 laps out of 90,001 while finishing 12th place on average. [1] Krauskopf also become one of the first millionaires in NASCAR history by collecting a grand total of $1,225,994 in his 12-year career ($6,164,305.91 when adjusted for inflation) while his employees drove 91,890.6 miles (147,883.6 km) of racing action. [1] He would also see his drivers go to the pole position 69 times. [1] A major part of Krauskopf's career would be Bobby Isaac's championship victory during the 1970 NASCAR Winston Cup Season. [6]
The constant changes of NASCAR in the 1970s would render Krauskopf's team uncompetitive, and mid-way through the 1976 race season he put his racing team and its assets (shops, cars, etc.) on the market and then sold it to coal mining magnate Jim Stacy. [7] As a result, he would constantly be at odds with NASCAR officials. [7]
Krauskopf retired in 1980 as chairman and owner of K&K Insurance Group. He sold his ownership share of the company in 1984. [2] He died in 1986. [2]
Nord Krauskopf | |
---|---|
![]() Mr. and Mrs. Krauskopf at the K&K Insurance offices. They managed and marketed a benevolent fund for NASCAR drivers before, during, and after his ownership career. | |
Born | January 26, 1922
Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S. |
Died | August 3, 1986
[1]
Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S. |
Occupation | NASCAR team owner/ businessman |
Known for | One of the first NASCAR Cup Series owners to become a millionaire |
Spouse | Theodora [2] |
Nord Krauskopf (January 26, 1922 – August 3, 1986) was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race car owner whose career spanned from 1966 to 1977. [1] He was the owner of K&K Insurance and a part of the business since its foundation in 1952. [3] This was a position that he kept in the corporate world while having a second career in the motorsports industry as a car owner. This dual role lasted until the 1970s when he left the NASCAR circuit to focus on running his insurance company. [4] His team would field mostly Dodge Chargers and Dodge Daytonas to the Cup Series races. [5]
He was known for employing veteran NASCAR drivers like Bobby Allison, Charlie Glotzbach, Bobby Isaac, Sam McQuagg, and Dave Marcis. [1] Krauskopf has seen his drivers participate in 345 races with 43 victories (first victory at the 1968 Columbia 200 – last victory at the 1976 Dixie 500), 171 finishes in the "top five," and 214 finishes in the "top ten. [1]" These drivers also managed to lead 15,705 laps out of 90,001 while finishing 12th place on average. [1] Krauskopf also become one of the first millionaires in NASCAR history by collecting a grand total of $1,225,994 in his 12-year career ($6,164,305.91 when adjusted for inflation) while his employees drove 91,890.6 miles (147,883.6 km) of racing action. [1] He would also see his drivers go to the pole position 69 times. [1] A major part of Krauskopf's career would be Bobby Isaac's championship victory during the 1970 NASCAR Winston Cup Season. [6]
The constant changes of NASCAR in the 1970s would render Krauskopf's team uncompetitive, and mid-way through the 1976 race season he put his racing team and its assets (shops, cars, etc.) on the market and then sold it to coal mining magnate Jim Stacy. [7] As a result, he would constantly be at odds with NASCAR officials. [7]
Krauskopf retired in 1980 as chairman and owner of K&K Insurance Group. He sold his ownership share of the company in 1984. [2] He died in 1986. [2]