Gary Tomkins (born March 4, 1966) is an American dirt modified racing driver. Tomkins has 146 feature event wins in the U.S., Canada and Australia.[1]
| Gary Tomkins | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 4, 1966 |
| Debut season | 1981 |
| Car number | 84 |
| Championships | 4 |
| Wins | 146 |
| Championship titles | |
| 2004 Mr. Dirt Champion | |
| Last updated on: February 3, 2024. | |
Racing career edit
Gary Tomkins gutted a Dodge Challenger at the age of 15 and entered it in the Street Stock class at the Canandaigua Speedway, winning 26 times over the following two years. Gary then spent the next few years attending college and working for chassis builder Maynard Troyer, while piecing together a Sportsman car, which he raced to Canandaigua's division title in 1989. Gaining some attention as Danny Johnon's relief driver for one race in 1990, Tomkins was next invited to race full time by car owner Darrell Simmons, and scored his first Modified victory in 1992.[1]
Tomkins claimed the track championship at Brewerton Speedway in 2004, and was the Rolling Wheels Modified champion in 2004 and 2005.[2] He was victorious at 14 different tracks including Can-Am Speedway, Utica-Rome Speedway and Weedsport Speedway in New York; Cornwall Motor Speedway ON; Hagerstown Speedway MD; and Lismore Speedway in New South Wales, Australia.[3][4][5]
Gary Tomkins was inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 2024.[1][6]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Racing Hall of Fame to induct two this year". The Citizen (Auburn, New York). January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Weidener, Nolan (October 8, 2004). "Up to the task: Gary Tomkins takes the wheel for a top team". The Post Standard. p. A1. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via NewspaperArchive.
- ^ "Tomkins leads way at Can-Am". Watertown Daily Times. August 17, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2024 – via NNY360 Archives.
- ^ Newlyn, Dennis (February 9, 2009). "Tomkins leading the V8 Dirt Modified charge". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Elkins, Doug (August 11, 2016). "How Gary Tomkins won on final lap at Weedsport Speedway". The Post-Standard. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ "Horton & Tompkins Selected To NE Dirt Modified Hall of Fame". Speed Sport. 31 January 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.