Curtis "Crawfish" Crider passed away today. His sister, Faye Dean Crider Ptiechmann, gave me the news.
updated by @jo-montgomery-black: 12/05/16 04:00:58PM
Curtis "Crawfish" Crider passed away today. His sister, Faye Dean Crider Ptiechmann, gave me the news.
So sorry to hear of another great racers passing. My sincere condolences to his family..
Sad...news. Will keep family in my thoughts, and prayers.....
Crawfish and I traveled together for about two years in the 50s. We both lived in Greensboro NC and I worked on my car in his garage. The two most fun trips I had with him was to McCormic (sp)field in Ashville and Columbia SC then overnight on to Jacksonville NC. No sleep for over 44 hours.
We were both young and broke most of the time.
He was one of my best friends back in my racing days.
Our thoughts and prayers go to his family. His memory will live forever in our hearts. God speed Crawfish...
Sad to hear of the passing of another old time racer. Prayers to his family.
Sorry to hear we have lost another from the crop of great drivers from the days when drivers were drivers.I believe this is from the 1964Dixie 400 at Atlanta: Don't pay attention to the date (July), back then I had to use up all my film before I could get it developed.
Thanks for posting the story link to the Daytona paper, Ray.
My thoughts and prayersare withhis family and friends.
Thoughts and prayers for the Crider family. Crawfish epitomized the era we all love, God Speed Curtis.
Family, friends and racers say goodbye to "Crawfish" Crider
Curtis "Crawfish" Crider made 232 starts between 1959-65 in NASCAR's top division, then known as the Grand National Series. In 1964, he had seven top-fives and finished sixth in the final points standings.
News-Journal file photo
By Godwin Kelly
MOTORSPORTS EDITOR
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Published: Friday, December 28, 2012
ORMOND BEACH -- Curtis Crawfish Crider, 82, was remembered by friends and family before being laid to rest at Volusia Memorial Park on Friday afternoon. He died Dec. 21.
The standing-room only service was conducted by Rev. Andy Pollock, Halifax Health Hospice chaplain, who said the humble Crider lived a full life enhanced by his racing background.
He wasn't just a great racer, Pollock said. He was a wonderful dad, husband, brother, grandfather and friend.
Crider's casket was covered by an American flag in the chapel. He was buried with military honors during the graveside service.
He was a great guy, said Kris Crider, who is married to Crider's son, Dean. He was a jokester. He'd give people the shirt off his back. He opened the house to people for different racing events.
Crider's wife of 35 years, Louise, sobbed with family members on the front pew of the small chapel. Crider's sister, Faye Perdue Pietschman, of Eden, N.C., sang a touching, old-style gospel song, which brought tears to those in attendance.
Curtis lived his life with passion, for racing, for family, for friends and having a sense of joy, Pollock said. I know Curtis had a passion for racing, put that gas pedal to the floor and let his engine scream.
He loved something far more. He loved all of you. What good is a race if there's nobody in the grandstands? Then, you're just riding in a circle. Today's a day when Curtis is standing in the winner's circle, with the checkered flag in hand and we are here to celebrate his life; that he's finished his final race.
Crider, family and friends said, was one of those rare people who gave more than he accepted during his life. Stubbornly independent, Crider refused anything which had the scent of charity about it, even though his Ormond Beach house remains in disrepair.
To this day, blue tarps on the roof hide the punishment inflicted by a falling oak tree from the 2005 hurricane season.
Curtis never took help, son-in-law Mark Gibson said. There were times when he should of, but didn't. He was a very proud man. That was Curtis. That was the way he was.
Originally from Abbeville, S.C., Crider made 232 starts between 1959-65 in NASCAR's top division, then known as the Grand National Series. All but seven of those starts came from 1960-64.
His best season was in 1964, when he competed in 59 of 62 races, scored seven top-fives and finished sixth in the final points standings.
The colorful Crider left the national touring series but didn't leave racing. He soothed his competitive itch on the short tracks of Florida, using Volusia County Speedway (now, Volusia Speedway Park) as his home base.
He captured the Florida State Championship three consecutive years (1972-74), winning 52 short-track features in that stretch.
Along the way, he helped many other racers get their start, such as Gibson, who enjoyed a 20-year ARCA career. Gibson married Jan Crider, one of Curtis Crider's five children.
I've known Curtis 40 years and when somebody wanted or needed (something), he was willing to give it to them, Gibson said. He gave me a shot in his race car when I didn't have anything going on for me.
He was giving all his life. If somebody came by wanting their car fixed, he'd fix it, and probably 90 percent of the time, never took a dime for his work. Curtis had a mighty big heart.
After leaving racing, Crider made a modest living restoring vintage and antique cars and trucks at his Ormond Beach home. His clients ranged from neighbors to car enthusiasts in Europe.
Crider's pride and joy was a 1940 Ford cab sitting on a 1970 truck chassis, purchased earlier this year by Gainesville's Charles Poindexter.
I know they are having a tough time financially, said Poindexter, who added that Crider tried to give him the truck as a gift.
I found out the best offer on the truck and sent them a check for that amount, Poindexter said. I know a lot of guys like Curtis, who ran NASCAR races in the 1960s. He helped a lot of people. He took me in; him and Louise, as a friend.
Chip Crider offered a bit of humor about his father during his eulogy.
Dad liked to laugh; he lived, Crider said. He was the greatest Dad that could ever be. He was cool. He shot pool.
I helped curtis at Charleston from 1961-1964. i had been with other drivers in 1960 and knew curtis as friends with them, I was getting drafted at the end of 1960 season and joined the Air Force, after basic and tech school got sent to Charleston Afb. looked fish up and found he was just out side the base. started helping him on my time off then rented his little house beside the garage. went to a lot of races with him, drove the old red truck to daytona and some other tracks. helped him with the new 64 merc.when he got it too. fish was a lot of fun, one afternoon as we were on the way to columbia for a night race. a recap came off the truck. we pulled over in the emergency lane and fish got in the race car, drove it off the truck and took off for the track about twenty miles. i limped the old truck on in . know some other fun stories, i left curtis in 65 tho go overseas, i called him a few yrs ago to say hi. sorry to hear of his passing. he was one of the good ones
Very sorry to hear this.Thank you for letting everyone know. My thoughts are with family and friends.
