| 250px | |
| Nationality |  American
|
| Born | 29 March 1966 |
| New York City, New York, United States | |
| Died | 21 March 1990 |
| Daytona Beach, Florida, United States | |
| Cause of Death | Injuries sustained in a testing accident at Daytona International Speedway |
| Achievements | 1982 Snowball Derby winner |
| World Stock Car Championship | |
|---|---|
| races run over 4 season(s). | |
| Rookie Season | 1987 |
| Team(s) | Stafford Race Engineering |
| Championships | |
| Pole Positions | |
| Wins | |
| World Stock Car Lites | |
| races run over 3 season(s). | |
| Rookie Season | 1984 |
| Team(s) | Stafford Race Engineering |
| Championships | |
| Pole Positions | |
| Wins | |
| WSCC Canon Driver | |
Daniel Howard "Danny" Stafford (29 March 1966 - 21 March 1990) was an American race car driver. The eldest son of driver Charlie Stafford, he was the second third-generation driver from the Stafford family, after his older cousin, Ray Stafford. He was killed in a crash during a tire test at Daytona International Speedway.
Early Life[edit | edit source]
Stafford was born in Brooklyn, New York, on 29 March, 1966. His father, Charlie, was a prominent stock car racer who raced in the National Stock Car Series. He was the oldest of four sons born to Charlie Stafford and his wife, Jean; his brother, Alan, was also a stock car racer. Alan died in a private plane crash in 1989.
Stafford attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, where he played basketball. He began racing during his sophomore year, running late models at Islip Speedway and Riverhead Raceway before moving onto the modified divisions by 1983; Stafford also became the youngest winner of the Snowball Derby in 1982. After winning the modified championship at Riverhead, he moved into the World Stock Car Lites racing for his grandfather's team.
Racing Career[edit | edit source]
World Stock Car Lites (1984 - 1986)[edit | edit source]
World Stock Car Championship (1987 - 1990)[edit | edit source]
Death[edit | edit source]
On March 21, 1990, during tire tests at Daytona International Speedway, the rear suspension on his car failed, resulting in Stafford losing control of the car at the entrance of the third turn. Stafford's car hit the concrete wall nearly head-on at 185 mph, lifting off the ground and riding the wall for approximately 500 feet before sliding down the track. He died instantly of massive head and chest injuries. During a later investigation, it was found that a mounting stud had broken, causing the failure of the rear suspension and rendering the car impossible to control. The cause of the stud breakage was undetermined.
Complete Motorsports Results[edit | edit source]
World Stock Car Lites[edit | edit source]
World Stock Car Championship[edit | edit source]
Links[edit | edit source]
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous Patrick Elliot |
Snowball Derby Winners 1982 |
Next Gabriel Kingsley |