Passing of ARCA’s Lee Raymond

Lee Raymond, a two-time ARCA Racing Series national driving champion, died Thursday, December 12. He was 59. Born on October 2, 1954, Raymond, of Dayton, Ohio, had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and was hospitalized prior to being placed in the care of Hospice.

http://www.arcaracing.com/news.php?contentid=16890

Photo from Robbie Solesbee collection

Sorry to hear of his passing. May he rest in peace. my condolences to his family and friends. Got to visit with him a few times when going back to Ohio for the family reunion and would visit Kil-Kare.

Thoughts and prayers to Lee’s family and friends.

God Speed Lee RIP

rip champ

sorry to hear lost lee my payers and thoughts are to family at this time.RIP

Jayski noted this morning that Lee Raymond made one Winston Cup start. He raced a #69 Ford with Hoosier tires in the 1989 Daytona 500. Though not shown on the hood or quarter-panels, Racing-Reference.info says the car had sponsorship from Bobby Fisher Distribution (maybe on the rear deck lid?). Fisher and his brother Woody were both beer distributors (Bobby still is), and they raced a Petty-built Dodge Charger in the mid 70s in ARCA, NASCAR late model sportsman, and Winston West races.

Photo fromJohn Betts collection from Raymond’s 125-mile qualifying race.

The red Riverside 1 was always one of the sharpest cars on the track. I helped on an ARCA team in the mid eighties and the first race we ran was at Atlanta. Standing on pit road at the old front straight and the field coming by with Lee leading at those speeds made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. He was GOOD!

So sorry to hear of Lee’s passing. Rest easy my friend.