Herring Burl Bailey, known in racing circles for nearly 30 years as H.B. Bailey, passed away early this morning at Methodist Hospital [TX] from heart failure. A popular competitor in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, 1964-90, Bailey was one of the top independent drivers of the time, and a leader among the group. On the track, he was a three-time member of the Darlington Record Club at the famed Darlington Raceway. In the Grand American division in 1972, Bailey won the Daytona pole and finished second in the national championship standings. “Our sport was built by people like H.B. Bailey,” said Richard Petty, who raced alongside him for years. “We all did things the same way in those days – we drove ourselves to the race track, we worked hard when we got there, we raced hard and then we drove home. H.B. was a racer through and through, and the sport is better off because he was a part of it. We will miss him.” Bailey, 66, is survived by his wife of 21 years, Michelle; four sons, Dennis Burl, Kirk, John Travis and Joe Dan; and two daughters, Kittie and Sarah Lynn. Joe Dan Bailey, who is with the NASCAR Technical Institute, is the only child currently involved in motorsports. Funeral arrangements were pending Thursday afternoon.(Williams Company PR)(4-17-2003) ALSO see a nice column at H.B. Bailey – 1936-2003Speed Channel: .(4-18-2003) AND Information regarding arrangements for H.B. Bailey is as follows: Visitation 6-8 p.m., Monday, April 21, at Sugar Creek Baptist Church, Sugarland, TX Memorial Service 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 22, at Sugar Creek Baptist Church A private burial service for family members will be held Tuesday morning, April 22.
