Passing of Cliff Stewart

Long-time NASCAR car owner and NC businessman Cliff Stewart passed away Sunday at the age of 91.

Obituary and site to leave notes, share photos, etc.

http://www.cumbyfuneral.com/obituaries/Clifton-Stewart/#!/Obituary

Mr. H. Clifton Cliff Stewart Sr., 91, resident of Kernersville, died August 28, 2016 at Shannon Gray Rehabilitation and Recovery Center.

Mr. Stewart was born July 10, 1925 in Davidson County, a son to the late Bernie and Lue Teague Stewart. A resident of this area all his life, he graduated in 1942 from Wallburg High School and later received his Bachelor of Science from High Point College. He owned and operated Stewart Fabric Sales and Spectrum Furniture Company, as well as several different NASCAR teams. He was of the Baptist faith. In 1944 he married Eva Mae Tommie Stewart who preceded him in death on December 15, 2013. In addition to his wife and parents, he was also preceded by two sisters, Pauline Eller and Peggy Lydia; a brother, Loyde Stewart; a grandson, Sonny Wheeler; and a great grandson, Nicholas Sgroi.

Surviving are three daughters, June Stewart of High Point, Henrietta Wheeler of Thomasville and Jackie Johnson of Asheboro; a son, Howard Stewart Jr. of High Point; nine grandchildren, Tammy Sgroi, Julie Jones, Tonia Dyer, Shannon Pope, Kara Webber, Clifton Stewart, Hannah Ridge, Bernie Stewart and Zach Johnson; and nine great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of the Cumby Family Funeral Service in High Point with Rev. Roy Cantrell officiating. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the organization of the donors choice.

Cliff was a crusty character with his ever present cigar stub hanging from the corner of his mouth. During my first year managing the Wrangler racing program in 1981, Cliff's Pontiac took Morgan Shepherd to victory at Martinsville in the Virginia 500. In 1987, Cliff took me on a personal tour of his Spectrum Furniture factory when he was trying once again to put together a sponsorship deal that never materialized. Though he won way back in 1962 with Jim Paschal, Cliff is probably best remembered by newer fans for giving Rusty Wallace his first full-time Cup ride. With Cliff's passing, NASCAR has lost another of its historical figures. R.I.P.

A lot of folks forget that Cliff Stewart and his Hot Rod Barns were literally Morgan Shepherd's savior:

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19810702&id...

RR member, Woody Delbridge captured this photo of the Cliff/Morgan Hot Rod Barns #7 car at Virginia's South Boston Speedway enroute to the 1980 NASCAR Late Model Sportsman National Championship:

Cliff Stewart wins crusade with Bill France, Jr.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19840328&id=T0IsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rM4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2135,7621345

Thanks for posting Dave

Member Bill Blair interviewed Cliff last year:

Thx for posting that Dave. Had on "to do" list after getting home tonight as YT isn't open at work. Bill Jr. did nice job with what I've termed a conversation rather than an interview.

1976: David Pearson racing Darrell Bryant in Stewart's Hot Rod Barns Chevrolet

Cliff was a fine person and a good friend. Rest in Peace Cliff.

Darrell Bryant also built and drove a couple Sportsman cars when he was working for Cliff in the mid seventies. That is when I got to know Darrell and Cliff.