Laverne Kendrick

Laverne Kendrick poses with his first race car and some of the fruits of victory.

Laverne Kendrick, of Tifton, Georgia, was born on Sept. 16, 1927.  Although times were hard due to the loss of his father at the age of 2, Kendrick would go on to become a fine business man.  One of the more known businesses Kendrick owned was the Kendrick Recreation Center, known around the area for its great food.

In 1953, Kendrick teamed with local farmer and car owner Jim York, who had lost his racing sponsorship.  By the next year, Kendrick owned the entire team, and would go on to be a very successful race car owner for the next three decades.

Kendrick’s cars would race all over Georgia, Florida, Alabama and the Carolinas, including races on Daytona Beach.  Among the drivers that would pilot Kendrick’s famed number 90 were NASCAR racers Bobby Allison, Tiny Lund, Sam McQuagg and Morgan Shepherd, along with Georgia Racing Hall of Fame members Eddie MacDonald and Aubrey Holley.

In all, Kendrick’s cars recorded 900 wins, along with the 1963 NASCAR Georgia Sportsman Championship.

Kendrick passed away on March 21, 1999 at the age of 71.