Racing career

Arrington has the second-most starts without a win, and finished in the top 10 of NASCAR points twice; in 1978 (ninth) and 1982 (seventh). Arrington was loyal to his Mopar engines, as he ran Chryslers and Dodges until 1985 when the company stopped supporting them. His best career race and finish was at Talladega in 1979, where he had a powerful enough car to lead a few laps towards the end, and finished third. Arrington finished one lap ahead of Richard Petty, driving one of Petty's cast-off Dodge Magnums that were left when Petty abandoned Mopar and began driving General Motors vehicles a year earlier, and several other top NASCAR drivers. Arrington almost always ran his own car, and his operation was a very money-conscious effort. His pit crew were almost always unpaid volunteers, and he relied heavily (and almost exclusively) on used equipment with Petty's old Magnums being his primary cars. Since Arrington could not afford new cars, his team would have to reconfigure the Petty cars and re-skin them into Dodge Miradas or Chrysler Imperials for a 1981 rule change.

Arrington's two Chrysler Imperials were the last Chrysler products to run in the NASCAR Winston Cup series. He ran the car at first in two races in the 1981 season, and in more races (alternating with Dodge Miradas) until April 1985, when at that point the parts supply, even used, for Chrysler products (Chrysler factory support ended in late 1978) dried up. He sold one of the Imperials (purchased from Cecil Gordon in 1984) to Phil Goode in April 1985 (Goode raced it till the end of the 1985 season), and his other Imperial was given to the NASCAR Hall of Fame at Talladega, Alabama. Arrington was always a much-liked man on the NASCAR circuit, and other teams and a small, but loyal fan club pitched in to help keep him racing. In 1985 the generosity of rising NASCAR star driver Bill Elliott (who sold Buddy his slightly used Ford Thunderbird race cars and parts on the cheap) kept Arrington driving until 1988. Buddy's son Joey Arrington (who at the age of 17 served on Buddy's pit crew, and built up his engines), now runs Arrington Manufacturing in Martinsville, Virginia. The company builds racing engines (mostly Dodges) for the Craftsman Truck Series, and test engines for Nextel Cup Nationwide series cars. Buddy Arrington is a regular visitor to his son's company, and often offers advice to young (mostly Dodge) drivers trying to make it in NASCAR racing.

Arrington is a noted figure in NASCAR and Mopar history. He began professional NASCAR racing in December 1963 behind the wheel of his Dodge hardtop, and for the next twenty-five years, he never missed a season; finally retiring from the sport in 1988. What made Arrington unique in the history of the sport was his absolute dedication and loyalty to Chrysler, and his positive attitude in spite of what often seemed like insurmountable odds. Being the team owner and driver, Arrington drove Dodges from 1964 all the way through mid-season 1985. In 1984 and 1985, his Chrysler Imperial became the last Chrysler product in NASCAR until Dodge reentered the sport in 1999. As prolific a racer as Buddy Arrington was, and as popular as he still remains among fans, he never won a single NASCAR race. In his 560 career starts, he mustered fifteen top-five finishes, and his highest points finish was seventh, achieved in 1982. Still, Buddy Arrington never abandoned the Mopar banner until Mopar completely abandoned him, pulling all parts sponsorships in 1985.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

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

Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60	61	62	NGNC	Pts	Ref
1964	Arrington Racing	78	Dodge	CON	AUG	JSP	SVH	RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY		BRI	GPS	BGS	ATL	AWS	HBO	PIF	CLB	NWS	MAR	SVH	DAR	LGY	HCY	SBO	CLT	GPS	ASH	ATL	CON	NSV	CHT	BIR	VAL	PIF	DAY	ODS	OBS	BRR	ISP	GLN	LIN	BRI	NSV	MBS	AWS	DTS	ONA	CLB	BGS	STR	DAR	HCY	RCH	ODS	HBO	MAR	SVH	NWS	CLT	HAR	AUG	JAC	34th	6364
			Plymouth									RCH
1965		67	Dodge	RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	PIF	ASW	RCH	HBO	ATL	GPS	NWS	MAR	CLB	BRI	DAR				CLT	CCF			NSV	BIR										BRI	NSV	CCF	AWS			AUG	CLB	DTS	BLV	BGS	DAR					MAR	NWS			CAR									22nd	11744
		6																	LGY	BGS	HCY
		62																						ASH	HAR				GPS	MBS	VAL	DAY	ODS	OBS	ISP	GLN					SMR	PIF							HCY	LIN	ODS	RCH				HBO		DTS
	Lester Hunter	35	Dodge																									ATL
	Langley Racing	84	Ford																																																				CLT
1966	Arrington Racing	67	Dodge	AUG	RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	CAR	BRI							MAR	DAR	LGY	MGR	MON	RCH	CLT	DTS	ASH	PIF	SMR	AWS	BLV	GPS	DAY	ODS	BRR	OXF	FON	ISP	BRI			ATL					DAR	HCY	RCH	HBO	MAR	NWS	CLT															32nd	7636
	Joan Petre	73	Ford								ATL	HCY	CLB	GPS	BGS	NWS
	Fox Racing	3	Dodge																																			SMR	NSV
	Arrington Racing	65	Dodge																																						CLB	AWS	BLV	BGS
	Paul Lewis	1	Plymouth																																																	CAR
1967	Arrington Racing	67	Dodge	AUG	RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	AWS	BRI	GPS	BGS	ATL	CLB	HCY	NWS	MAR	SVH	RCH	DAR	BLV	LGY	CLT	ASH	MGR	SMR	BIR	CAR	GPS	MGY	DAY	TRN	OXF	FDA	ISP	BRI	SMR	NSV	ATL	BGS	CLB	SVH	DAR	HCY	RCH	BLV	HBO	MAR	NWS																	26th	9768
		69																																																CLT	CAR	AWS
1968		67		MGR	MGY	RSD	DAY	BRI	RCH	ATL	HCY	GPS	CLB	NWS	MAR	AUG	AWS	DAR	BLV	LGY	CLT	ASH	MGR	SMR	BIR	CAR	GPS	DAY	ISP	OXF	FDA	TRN	BRI	SMR	NSV	ATL	CLB	BGS	AWS	SBO	LGY	DAR	HCY	RCH	BLV	HBO	MAR	NWS	AUG	CLT	CAR	JFC														NA	0
1969				MGR	MGY	RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	CAR	AUG	BRI	ATL	CLB	HCY	GPS	RCH	NWS	MAR	AWS	DAR	BLV	LGY	CLT	MGR	SMR	MCH	KPT	GPS	NCF	DAY	DOV	TPN	TRN	BLV	BRI	NSV	SMR	ATL	MCH	SBO	BGS	AWS	DAR	HCY	RCH	TAL	CLB	MAR	NWS	CLT	SVH	AUG	CAR	JFC	MGR	TWS									33rd	1099
1970		5		RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	RCH	CAR	SVH	ATL	BRI	TAL	NWS	CLB	DAR	BLV	LGY	CLT	SMR	MAR	MCH	RSD	HCY	KPT	GPS	DAY	AST	TPN	TRN	BRI	SMR	NSV	ATL	CLB	ONA	MCH	TAL	BGS	SBO	DAR	HCY	RCH	DOV	NCF	NWS	CLT	MAR	MGR	CAR	LGY															33rd	1087
1971				RSD	DAY	DAY	DAY	ONT	RCH	CAR	HCY	BRI	ATL	CLB	GPS	SMR	NWS	MAR	DAR	SBO	TAL	ASH	KPT	CLT	DOV	MCH	RSD	HOU	GPS	DAY	BRI	AST	ISP	TRN	NSV	ATL	BGS	ONA	MCH	TAL	CLB	HCY	DAR	MAR	CLT	DOV	CAR	MGR	RCH	NWS	TWS															NA	0

Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year	Team	No.	Make	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	NWCC	Pts	Ref
1972	Arrington Racing	67	Plymouth	RSD	DAY	RCH	ONT																												22nd	4555.89
			Dodge					CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	CLT	DOV	MCH	RSD	TWS	DAY	BRI	TRN	ATL	TAL	MCH	NSV	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	TWS
1973				RSD	DAY	RCH				NWS	DAR	MAR		NSV		DOV			MCH		BRI	ATL		NSV	DAR	RCH	DOV	NWS	MAR						12th	5483.9
			Plymouth				CAR	BRI	ATL				TAL		CLT		TWS	RSD		DAY			TAL							CLT	CAR
1974				RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RSD	MCH	DAY	BRI	NSV	ATL	POC	TAL	MCH	DAR	RCH	DOV	NWS	MAR	CLT	CAR	ONT		30th	221.2
1975			Dodge	RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR																												19th	2654
			Plymouth					BRI	ATL	NWS	DAR	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	DAR	DOV	NWS	MAR		RCH	CAR	BRI	ATL	ONT
			Chevy																									CLT
1976			Dodge	RSD	DAY	CAR			ATL		DAR	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV		TAL	MCH		DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR		CLT	CAR	ATL	ONT		20th	2573
			Plymouth				RCH	BRI		NWS											POC			BRI					NWS
1977			Dodge	RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	NWS	DAR	BRI	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL			11th	3247
			Ford																														ONT
1978				RSD													RSD																ONT		9th	3626
			Dodge		DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	DOV	CLT	NSV		MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL
1979			Ford	RSD														RSD																	11th	3589
			Dodge		DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	NWS	BRI	DAR	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	TWS		MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	CLT	NWS	CAR	ATL	ONT
1980				RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	TWS	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	NWS	MAR	CLT	CAR	ATL	ONT	12th	3461
1981				RSD	DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	NWS	DAR	MAR	TAL		DOV	CLT	TWS	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC		MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	RSD	11th	3381
	Negre Racing													NSV
	Arrington Racing		Chrysler																				TAL
1982			Dodge	DAY	RCH	BRI	ATL	CAR	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	NSV	DOV	CLT	POC	RSD	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL		BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	NWS		MAR	CAR				7th	3642
			Chrysler																				MCH						CLT			ATL	RSD
1983				DAY		CAR			NWS		TAL	NSV	DOV	BRI	CLT	RSD		MCH	DAY	NSV				BRI					NWS	CLT		ATL			15th	3158
			Dodge		RCH		ATL	DAR		MAR							POC				POC	TAL	MCH		DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR			CAR		RSD
1984			Chrysler	DAY	RCH	CAR			NWS		MAR	TAL		DOV		RSD	POC	MCH	DAY	NSV	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV								20th	2504
			Dodge				ATL	BRI		DAR			NSV		CLT													MAR	CLT		CAR	ATL	RSD
	Thomas Racing	41	Chevy																											NWS
1985	Arrington Racing	67	Dodge	DAY	RCH	CAR																													20th	2780
			Chrysler				ATL	BRI							RSD
			Ford						DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	DOV	CLT		POC	MCH	DAY	POC	TAL	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	RSD
1986		65		DAY																															20th	2776
		67		DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	BRI	DAR	NWS	MAR	TAL	DOV	CLT	RSD	POC	MCH	DAY	POC	TAL	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	ATL	RSD
1987	Fillip Racing	81	Ford	DAY	CAR	RCH	ATL	DAR	NWS	BRI	MAR	TAL																							25th	1885
	Arrington Racing	67	Ford										CLT	DOV	POC	RSD	MCH	DAY	POC	TAL	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	NWS	CLT	CAR	RSD	ATL
1988				DAY	RCH	CAR	ATL	DAR	BRI	NWS	MAR	TAL	CLT	DOV	RSD	POC	MCH																		46th	352
			Chevy															DAY	POC	TAL	GLN	MCH	BRI	DAR	RCH	DOV	MAR	CLT	NWS	CAR	PHO	ATL

Daytona 500

Year	Team	Manufacturer	Start	Finish
1968	Arrington Racing	Dodge	22	11
1969			13	28
1970			32	29
1972	Arrington Racing	Plymouth	22	32
1973		Dodge	36	9
1974		Plymouth	DNQ
1976	Arrington Racing	Dodge	37	11
1977			38	38
1978			17	16
1979			15	12
1980			31	41
1981			20	26
1982			39	15
1983		Chrysler	34	16
1984			28	25
1986	Arrington Racing	Ford	35	23
1988	Arrington Racing	Ford	DNQ

[ Source: Wikipedia ]