The racing world is remembering Gary Myers, a respected former NASCAR driver and one of the most important figures in the long-running Myers racing family.
Gary Myers passed away on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the age of 76, following a period of declining health. His death marks the end of an era for a family whose name has been connected with racing at Bowman Gray Stadium for generations.
While Myers competed in NASCAR’s top series during the 1970s, his influence reached far beyond his statistics in the national record books. His greatest legacy can be seen in the racing family and community he helped build around him.
For more than six decades, Gary Myers remained connected to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He experienced racing as a fan, competitor, father, mentor and team owner, helping turn the Myers name into one of the most recognizable families in regional stock car racing.
His story is ultimately about much more than finishing positions. It is about passion, family, perseverance and the ability of one generation to pass its love for motorsports to the next.
Gary Myers and His NASCAR Career
Gary Myers was born on March 4, 1950, in Walnut Cove, North Carolina. He eventually reached NASCAR’s premier stock car competition, then known as the Winston Cup Series.
According to available racing records, Myers competed in 46 NASCAR Cup Series races between 1974 and 1978. His best season points finish came in 1978, when he ranked 27th. His first Cup Series appearance came in the 1974 Yankee 400 at Michigan International Speedway, while his final recorded Cup start was the 1978 Los Angeles Times 500 at Ontario.
Although he did not record a Cup Series victory, his participation during an intensely competitive period of NASCAR history remains an important part of his career.
The 1970s were filled with legendary names and fierce competition. Independent drivers faced the enormous challenge of competing against established teams while working with different levels of sponsorship, equipment and resources.
Gary Myers earned his place in that environment through determination and racing ability.
His Cup career also helped establish a national chapter in a racing story that had already been developing for years in North Carolina.
A Racing Family Built Around Bowman Gray
The Myers family’s connection to Bowman Gray Stadium stretches back to the early 1950s.
Gary’s father, Billy Myers, and his uncle, Bobby Myers, were among the early stars associated with the legendary Winston-Salem short track. NASCAR has noted that Billy and Bobby Myers combined for four Bowman Gray track championships across five seasons from 1951 through 1955.
After their careers ended tragically in the late 1950s, the family’s racing tradition continued through Gary Myers.
That made Gary an important bridge between the early generation of the Myers family and the generations that followed.
His sons, Burt Myers and Jason Myers, both became accomplished racers. His grandson, Slate Myers, has continued the family connection to modified racing.
This four-generation story is one of the most remarkable parts of Gary Myers’ legacy.
38 Bowman Gray Victories
While Gary Myers’ NASCAR Cup career gave him national recognition, his achievements at Bowman Gray Stadium became an even more defining part of his racing identity.
Myers recorded 38 victories at Bowman Gray Stadium, a remarkable accomplishment at one of America’s most demanding short tracks.
Bowman Gray is famous for its close racing, intense competition and passionate fan base. Success there requires more than speed. Drivers must have patience, confidence, consistency and the ability to make decisions in extremely tight racing conditions.
Gary Myers developed those qualities over decades.
His 38 victories became part of a much larger family record. NASCAR reported in 2025 that Gary, Burt and Jason Myers had combined for 181 Bowman Gray wins at that point, illustrating the extraordinary scale of the family’s contribution to the track.
That number represents more than trophies.
It represents generations of weekends spent at the track, countless hours preparing cars, learning from mistakes, celebrating victories and supporting one another through difficult races.
Gary Myers and the SMART Modified Tour
Another major achievement came in the SMART Modified Tour.
Gary Myers was a founding member of the SMART Modified Tour and won its championship in 1996. Racing sources report that he recorded 15 victories in the series.
His championship demonstrated that his abilities were not limited to one track.
Modified racing has a special place in the history of American motorsports, particularly throughout the Southeast. The cars are distinctive, the racing is demanding and the drivers often develop deep connections with their local racing communities.
Gary Myers became an important part of that culture.
His 1996 championship remains one of the strongest competitive highlights of his post-Cup career.
More Than a Driver
One of the most meaningful aspects of Gary Myers’ life was the way his role evolved after his own time behind the wheel.
He became a father, mentor and car owner who helped the next generation pursue racing.
His sons Burt and Jason both developed successful careers, continuing the family tradition that Gary had inherited from Billy and Bobby Myers.
Burt Myers became particularly successful at Bowman Gray. NASCAR has described him as a 10-time track champion, helping bring the Myers family total to 14 Bowman Gray championships.
That achievement shows how Gary’s influence extended beyond his own statistics.
A racing legacy is not only measured by the races a driver wins. It can also be measured by the opportunities created for the people who follow.
Gary Myers gave his family a foundation from which another generation could grow.
A Proud Father and Racing Mentor
In 2025, Gary Myers was still attending races and celebrating his family’s achievements despite declining health.
When Burt Myers recorded his 101st career Modified Series victory at Bowman Gray Stadium in June 2025, Gary and his wife, Pam, were brought from the pit area to Victory Lane to share the celebration.
Burt spoke about how meaningful it was that his parents were able to be there for the milestone, particularly because of Gary’s health at the time. (Official Site Of NASCAR)
That moment captured something deeply important about Gary Myers’ place in the family.
He was not simply watching another driver win.
He was watching a son carry forward a tradition that had started with earlier generations of the Myers family.
The Next Generation Carries the Name Forward
Gary Myers’ influence continues through his grandchildren as well.
His grandson Slate Myers has competed in the SMART Modified Tour, driving for Gary Myers. Available racing records list Gary Myers as the car owner for Slate’s No. 4 entry in the 2025 season.
This makes the Myers racing story particularly special.
The same family name has appeared across multiple generations of drivers, with each generation adding something new to the tradition.
Gary inherited the passion from an earlier generation, built his own career, raised racers and helped create an environment where the family tradition could continue.
That is a legacy that does not end with retirement.
Gary Myers’ Impact on Motorsports
Gary Myers’ story reflects an important side of NASCAR and American stock car racing that can sometimes be overlooked.
Motorsports is not built only by the biggest stars competing under the brightest national spotlight.
It is also built by local drivers, families, mechanics, owners, track workers and fans who keep racing culture alive year after year.
Bowman Gray Stadium is a perfect example.
For decades, Gary Myers was part of that community. He watched his family race, competed himself, supported his sons and remained connected to the sport long after his own NASCAR Cup career ended.
His life demonstrates how a local racing passion can grow into a multigenerational legacy.
Remembering Gary Myers With Gratitude
The news of Gary Myers’ death brings understandable sadness to the racing community, but his story also provides many reasons for gratitude.
He leaves behind decades of memories, victories and family achievements.
He leaves behind 38 Bowman Gray victories and a SMART Modified Tour championship.
He leaves behind 46 NASCAR Cup Series starts.
Most importantly, he leaves behind a family that continues to race.
That may be the strongest tribute a racer can receive.
Gary Myers did not simply participate in motorsports. He helped create a pathway for others to follow.
A Legacy That Will Continue Around the Track
Racing is often described through numbers: wins, championships, starts and points.
Gary Myers certainly has meaningful numbers attached to his name.
But his most important statistics may never appear in a racing database.
They are found in the generations of his family who continue to compete.
They are found in the fans who remember watching him at Bowman Gray.
They are found in the drivers he influenced and the people who learned from his experience.
They are found in the family tradition that remains alive every time a Myers driver pulls onto a racing surface.
The Myers name has become part of Bowman Gray’s identity, and Gary Myers was one of the central figures connecting its past with its future.
The End of One Chapter, Not the Legacy
Gary Myers’ passing closes an important chapter in the history of a remarkable racing family.
But his legacy remains active.
That continuation gives Gary Myers’ story a hopeful dimension.
His career may have started decades ago, but the values behind it — dedication, family, resilience and love for racing — remain relevant today.
For racing fans, Gary Myers will be remembered not simply as a former NASCAR driver, but as a builder of a racing legacy.
His journey from Walnut Cove to NASCAR, Bowman Gray victories, a SMART Modified Tour championship and generations of family competition reflects the enduring power of passion.
Gary Myers’ name will continue to live where his family has always belonged: around the track, surrounded by racing, family and the roar of engines.
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