In the early years of stock car racing, Wilbur Rakestraw of Paulding County (GA) was one of the stars of Atlanta-area tracks such as Lakewood Speedway and the Dallas Speed Bowl. He also was well-known on the NASCAR circuit now known as Sprint Cup and on NASCAR’s old Convertible Series. Rakestraw, who died Wednesday at age 85 of congestive heart failure, was among the drivers who made the transition from the old beach course at Daytona to the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. He ran the first three Daytona 500s as well as the first race at the track now known at Atlanta Motor Speedway, finishing 11th. Rakestraw ran 30 points-paying races in the Cup Series and 11 in Convertibles. But his best performance came in a non-points event at Daytona International Speedway in 1961 in which he finished second to Junior Johnson and just ahead of Fred Lorenzen (Atlanta Journal Constitution), service info coming at ClarkFuneralHome.comno info on services yet.
