Earl "Buddy" Herndon

**Admin** Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:01 pm

Earl “Buddy” Herndon

Buddy was born on August 27, 1923 in Appling County, Georgia. Buddy first became interested in racing when his friend, Paul Pappy, began racing at Camp Foster Raceway in Jacksonville, Florida. Soon he was driving hot rods, building them at home, and racing on the beach and dirt tracks.

Buddy raced in Florida and Georgia winning some and finishing as a top contender in others. One of his most exciting memories was in 1949 when he won the Florida State Hot Rod Race in Daytona Beach, a half mile dirt track. In 1954, in St. Augustine, Florida, he won the Stock Car Florida Beach Championship running barrels.

Buddy was running fourth in a NASCAR race in Jacksonville when he was hit in the driver’s side door panel, breaking his shoulder and collarbone. This ended his racing career. Buddy retired from the Jacksonville Shipyard. Before his wife, Betty passed away, they loved to travel around the country in their 5th wheel and also hunt and fish. They have three sons, several grandchildren and great grand children. Buddy lost one of his son’s in 2009.

Buddy was inducted into the Jacksonville Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame in 1992.