Bill Davis, NASCAR Owner Who Gave Jeff Gordon His Start and Won the Daytona 500, Dies at 74

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated Sep 8, 2025 8:42 AM ET

Bill Davis, one of NASCAR’s most influential team owners and the man who launched Jeff Gordon’s stock-car career, has died at 74.

Across three decades in the sport, Davis left a lasting mark. His Bill Davis Racing team captured victories at the sport’s biggest stages, highlighted by Ward Burton’s win in the 2002 Daytona 500 and the 2001 Southern 500.

Under his leadership, the No. 22 Caterpillar car became a fan favorite, symbolizing grit and determination.

Davis’ impact extended beyond the Cup Series. His teams collected 11 wins in the Xfinity Series and 24 more in the Truck Series, including the 2008 championship with Johnny Benson Jr.

Along the way, he worked with some of NASCAR’s most iconic names, from Mark Martin and Bobby Labonte to Burton and Gordon.

It was Davis who spotted Gordon’s potential as a teenager in the early 1990s. Driving for BDR, Gordon won Rookie of the Year in the Xfinity Series and secured his first NASCAR victories before moving to Hendrick Motorsports — where he would win 93 races and four Cup championships.

While Gordon's departure reshaped NASCAR history, Davis took pride in the role he played in helping future Hall of Famers make their start.

NASCAR Statement on the Passing of Bill Davis:

A championship-winning leader and owner, Bill Davis made a lasting mark on our sport through his passion and unwavering belief in the people around him. His teams celebrated some of NASCAR’s most prestigious victories, including the…
— NASCAR Communications (@NASCAR_Comms) September 7, 2025

After selling his team in 2008, Davis returned to Arkansas, focusing on his trucking and cattle businesses. He was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

NASCAR remembered him as a champion, leader, and friend whose passion for racing never wavered. His legacy remains etched in victory lane — and in the careers of the drivers who flourished under his guidance.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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