Hershel McGriff

4 31 5 | 4 | 31 | 5 | | 4 | 31 | 5 | | | 1 race run over 1 year | | | | | 1993 Western Auto Texas Shootout II (Texas World) | | | | | Wins Top tens Poles

0 1 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | | 0 | 1 | 0 | | | 271 races run over 42 years | | | | | 1st (1986) | | | | | 1954 Race 1 (Oakland) | | | | | 2018 Port of Tucson Twin 100 #1 (Tucson) | | | | | 1954 Race 7 (San Mateo) | | | | | 1989 Spears Manufacturing 200 (Mesa Marin) | | | | | Wins Top tens Poles

34 146 37 | 34 | 146 | 37 | | 34 | 146 | 37 | | | Statistics up to date as of May 24, 2024. | | | |

Hershel Eldridge McGriff Sr. (born December 14, 1927) is an American professional stock car racing driver. A long-time competitor in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, formerly known as the Winston West Series, he won the series' 1986 championship, and is also a four-time winner in Grand National competition. He most recently drove the No. 04 Toyota Camry for Bill McAnally Racing in 2018.

McGriff first raced on September 16, 1945, right after racing resumed in the United States after World War II. He was the winner of the first Carrera Panamericana in 1950, where he met NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. France convinced McGriff to come south and race in NASCAR races at Daytona Beach, the first Southern 500 race at Darlington Raceway, Detroit, and Raleigh.

McGriff in his #88 Oldsmobile which he drove in the 1950 La Carrera Panamericana.

France convinced McGriff to race full-time in NASCAR in 1954. He had his four wins that year in the Grand National series, the first coming at Bay Meadows Speedway. He had seventeen top-ten finishes in 24 events and finished sixth in the final points standings. McGriff's average finishing position was higher than points champion Lee Petty.

McGriff had two options to choose from for the 1955 season. He was offered a ride in NASCAR to race for millionaire Carl Kiekhaefer's newly formed team. McGriff decided to return home to the West Coast to be closer to his family and to tend to his growing timber and mill business. Tim Flock drove Kiekhaefer's Chrysler 300 to eighteen victories that season and the season championship.

McGriff returned to racing after an absence of around ten years. He started 41st at Riverside in 1967 and had moved up to second place by the sixth lap. He beat Ron Grable in a photo finish that day.

McGriff became the oldest driver to win a NASCAR feature race when he won the Spears Manufacturing 200, a Winston West Series race, in 1989 at the age of 61. His fourteen wins at the defunct Riverside International Raceway is the most at NASCAR-sanctioned events, and he was chosen as the grand marshal for the final race at the track in 1988.

In November 1996, McGriff made the trip with several NASCAR champions, current Winston Cup, Busch Grand National, and Craftsman Truck Series drivers to Japan's Suzuka Raceway for an exhibition race. He started 26th and finished 25th in what was called the NASCAR Thunder Special Suzuka.

McGriff announced his retirement following the 2002 season.

With later starts in the Camping World/K&N Pro Series East and West, McGriff set and broke his records as the oldest driver in series history.

In 2018, at the age of ninety, McGriff announced plans to run the K&N West races at Tucson Speedway, and upon starting became the oldest person to contest in a race sanctioned by NASCAR.

McGriff was inducted in the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame in its first class in 2002.

McGriff was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2006.

McGriff, who retired from driving at age 74 said, "This is fantastic, getting in the Hall of Fame, but, hey, I might not be through yet. When I turn 80 [in two years], I just might go out to a short track and show the young guys that I can still do it."

In 2023, McGriff was inducted in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, alongside 2003 Cup Series Champion, Matt Kenseth, four-time Cup Series winning crew chief, Kirk Shelmerdine, and NASCAR Executive, Mike Helton.

McGriff's son Hershel Jr. currently races Outlaw Late Models, while his granddaughter Mariah competes in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series' Super Late Model and Pro Stock divisions.

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

• Hershel McGriff driver statistics at Racing-Reference