Fairgrounds Fact 1996 - 1997

August 19th, 2008 by Donnie Redd | Posted in Drivers, History |

A. W. “Andy” Kirby - 1996 & 1997 Nashville Speedway USA Champion

1996, Kirby won eight features, four poles, 17 top 5’s, 20 top 10’s enroute to championship number two at Nashville. He was the 1996 runner-up in NASCAR Winston Racing Series Blue Ridge Regional points. Kirby competed in select NASCAR All Pro Series and Southern All Star events.

1997, Kirby became only the third driver to win three championships  (1994, 1996 & 1997) joining Sterling Marlin (1980, 1981 & 1982) and Coo Coo Marlin, who won four (1959, 1963, 1965 & 1966). Kirby won the NASCAR Heartland Region Winston Racing Series Championship. Won seven features, three poles, 15 top 5’s, 16  top 10’s in 20 starts. Kirby has 28 career wins at Nashville. He competed on the NASCAR Busch Series in 1999 driving for Nashville based LAR Motorsports.

2002, Kirby ran periodically in the 2000, 2001 and 2002 season for Jay Robinson Motorsports team in the NASCAR Busch Series.  Tragically, Kirby died from injuries on July 18, 2002 from a motorcycle accident near his White House, TN home.