One of nine children who grew up near Catawba, N.C., Bobby Isaac took up stock-car racing in 1956 and went on to win the NASCAR Cup championship in 1970.
Isaac, who drove the familiar No. 71 K&K Dodge prepared by legendary crew chief Harry Hyde to the title in 1970, won 37 races and 50 poles during his NASCAR career, which ended in 1976.
Isaac died of a heart attack after competing in a late-model sportsman race at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway in 1977. Ironically, Hickory is where he ran his first race in 1956.
Isaac was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1996 and was named to NASCAR’s list of its 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
Featured here (clockwise from top left): Celebrating a Grand National victory at Hickory Motor Speedway with wife Patsy (left) and twin daughters Rhonda and Robin; Giving his No. 71 a push; With Neil Castles (left) and Richard Petty (center) at the West Virginia 300; Talking to David Pearson in the garage; Spending time with a young fan prior to a USAC race at the Milwaukee State Fair in Oct. 1965; The 1970 NASCAR Cup champion; Deep in thought; Showing off the No. 71 Dodge at Charlotte Motor Speedway. — NSSN Archives