Dick McCabe is a former NASCAR driver from Kennebunkport, ME. He is known to most major NASCAR fans of a Nationwide Series winner at Oxford in 1988, but he won the in Camping World East Series four times. He was also the champion of the Camping World East Series twice. His nickname was the "Irish Angel." He retired from racing in 1995.
Accomplishments before major NASCAR
McCabe built his first racecar, a '36 Chevy 6 cylinder "Bomber" coupe at age 14, and snuck his way into a number of races. McCabe joined the NASCAR North (a regional racing series) in 1976, where he competed against Stub Fadden, Beaver and Bobby Dragon, and Robbie Crouch. McCabe won the Nascar North Championship in 1981, then repeated in '82, when he set the Nascar North record for the most top 10 finishes in a season. It was also during this period that he became the Oxford Plains Open Champion for 4 consecutive years from 1981-1984.
McCabe also ran a side buisness during this time A bait salesman, Dick would drive his 18 wheel dump truck 12 hours a day to pick up and sell bait to fisherman. In fact, his business often appeared on his cars.
McCabe moved Busch North Series, where he again took down back to back championships, in 1992 and '93. The '93 season was extra special, because Dick won track and Busch North Championships in the inaugural season at NHIS
As he was competing in the North Series, McCabe did what a lot of those series drivers did: run a part-time Busch schedule. McCabe made his debut in 1984 at Daytona, where he started 36th. However, it was a good run for McCabe as he finished 11th, an impressive debut.
McCabe nearly topped that in 1985, when he ran the #80 McCabe Bait Pontiac to a twelvth place run in his return to Daytona. It was his only start in that year.
McCabe made his Busch debut at Oxford Plains Speedway in 1986, earning his first career top-10 start. However, the ninth place on the grid didn't convert in the race. An early engine failure left him 43rd in the field.
McCabe was determined to run well at Oxford in 1987, and he converted this time. He started twelvth in the #0, but methodically moved his way through the field and began to be a factor in the finish. In the end, McCabe had a fourth place finish, his first career top-10.
The solid run allowed McCabe to ink a four-race deal in 1988. After a twenty-first place finish at Daytona, McCabe qualified seventh at Oxford. From there, McCabe once again became a factor in the finish. This time, however, he led 102 laps en route to his first career Busch Series victory. McCabe also added a 19th at IRP before settling for 33rd at Dover.
McCabe returned to action for one race in 1989. This time he started shotgun on the field at Richmond. However, he was running well before engine problems sidelined him to 26th.
In two starts in 1990, McCabe found little success. He was only 26th at Oxford and finished 43rd at Loudon after a crash.
Three starts are credited to McCabe in 1991, and it ended up being his best career year despite a 38th place in his season debut at Oxford. McCabe recovered by piloting his #0 in both NHIS races to top-10 finishes. He was 9th in the July race and 10th in the October race.
McCabe started off 1992 solid, qualifying for the outside pole at Nazareth Speedway. However, he was wrecked in that race early and finished 35th. The same finish found him at New Hampshire, before recovering to a 12th place finish.
McCabe's two races in 1993 included his debut at Watkins Glen International, racing home to a 15th place. However, McCabe only completed 18 laps at New Hampshire before falling out of the race and to a 44th place finish.
McCabe made his last start in 1994, and it was anything but miserable. He started 38th and then finished 34th after a mid-race accident.
External Links
McCabe bio
McCabe's stats
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