Former NASCAR driver Gary Myers, a longtime figure in North Carolina short-track racing and the patriarch of the Myers racing family, has died at age 76. Myers died Thursday, September 10, 2026, following a period of declining health, according to reports published after his death. The SMART Modified Tour and members of the Myers family have since paid tribute to the veteran racer.
The news has drawn renewed attention to former NASCAR driver Gary Myers, whose career stretched from NASCAR’s premier division in the 1970s to the highly competitive Modified racing scene in the Southeast. His influence also extended through his sons, Burt and Jason Myers, and grandson Slate Myers.
Who Was Gary Myers?
Gary Myers was born March 4, 1950, and became part of one of the most recognizable racing families connected to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
He competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, the former name of today’s NASCAR Cup Series, along with the NASCAR Grand National East Series and the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour. His Cup career included 46 starts between 1974 and 1978.
Although Myers did not record a Cup victory, his racing career became much bigger than his NASCAR statistics. He established himself as a successful Modified driver and remained closely connected to Bowman Gray Stadium, where several generations of the Myers family built their reputations.
Gary Myers’ NASCAR Cup Series Career
Myers competed in NASCAR’s top division during the 1970s, making his first Cup Series start in the 1974 Yankee 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
He ultimately made 46 Cup Series starts over five seasons. His best season in the Cup standings came in 1978, when he finished 27th in the championship standings. He recorded no Cup wins, top-five finishes, top-10 finishes or poles, but his five-year presence in NASCAR’s premier series remains an important part of his career record.
His NASCAR career was only one part of a much broader racing résumé. Myers continued competing in different forms of stock car and Modified racing, where he achieved some of his most significant successes.
Gary Myers Became a SMART Modified Tour Champion
One of the defining accomplishments of Myers’ racing career came in the 1996 SMART Modified Tour season.
Myers won the 1996 championship by 10 points over Frank Fleming. He also won two races during the season, including the season-opening event at Summerville Speedway and a September race at Franklin County Speedway.
The official SMART Modified Tour history lists Gary Myers as its 1996 champion, while its historical statistics credit him with 15 SMART Tour victories.
His success at Franklin County Speedway also became part of the track’s Modified history. SMART records show Myers among the notable drivers to win at the historic Virginia facility, including victories during the 1996 season.
Gary Myers and the Bowman Gray Racing Legacy
For many fans, Gary Myers’ greatest legacy may be his connection to Bowman Gray Stadium, one of America’s most famous short tracks.
The Myers family has been connected to Bowman Gray racing since the 1950s. Gary followed his father Billy Myers and uncle Bobby Myers into competition before his own sons, Burt and Jason, continued the family tradition. NASCAR has previously highlighted the family’s deep history at Bowman Gray and throughout Southeast Modified racing.
Gary won 38 races at Bowman Gray Stadium, placing him among the track’s most successful drivers. His achievements helped establish the foundation for the next generations of the family.
That family legacy remained visible throughout 2026.
Gary Myers’ Sons Burt and Jason Continued His Racing Legacy
Gary Myers was the father of Burt Myers and Jason Myers, both successful Modified racers.
Burt became one of the most decorated drivers in Bowman Gray Stadium history. NASCAR has described the Myers family as a major part of the track’s long-running Modified tradition, with Gary’s sons carrying the family name into another era of competition.
In 2025, Burt celebrated his 101st career Modified victory at Bowman Gray. NASCAR noted at the time that Gary, Burt and Jason had combined for 181 wins at the historic stadium. Gary and his wife, Pam Myers, were present for Burt’s milestone celebration.
Burt also became a multiple-time Bowman Gray champion, while Jason developed his own successful Modified career.
Grandson Slate Myers Continued the Fourth Generation
Gary Myers’ racing legacy reached a remarkable fourth generation in 2026 through his grandson Slate Myers.
In May 2026, 17-year-old Slate Myers won his first Modified race at Bowman Gray Stadium. The victory made him the fourth generation of the Myers family to win at the historic venue and the youngest driver to win a Modified race there.
The significance of the victory was not lost on Slate. Following the win, he specifically dedicated the achievement to his grandfather Gary Myers, who was present during that important moment for the family.
The official Bowman Gray site later listed Burt Myers as the 2026 Modified champion, with Slate finishing fifth in the final Modified points standings.
Gary Myers’ Final Years in Racing
Even after his own driving career had passed its peak, Myers remained deeply involved with racing and his family.
His presence at Bowman Gray continued to matter to his sons and grandchildren. In 2025, NASCAR reported that Gary’s health had declined but that he still attended Burt’s 101st Modified victory alongside his wife. That appearance became an especially meaningful family moment in hindsight.
In June 2026, Slate also spoke publicly about his grandfather after winning at Bowman Gray, highlighting how important Gary remained to the family as its fourth generation entered victory lane.
Tributes Follow Gary Myers’ Death
Following the news of Myers’ death, tributes began appearing throughout the racing community.
A report published September 11 said the SMART Modified Tour described Myers as one of its heroes. Burt Myers also shared an emotional tribute to his father, describing him as his hero and crediting him with teaching him what he knows about racing.
The reaction reflects the broader importance of Gary Myers to the sport. His career was not defined solely by his 46 NASCAR Cup Series starts. His greatest impact was arguably the racing culture he helped create within the Myers family and the generations of drivers who followed him.
Gary Myers’ Racing Legacy Lives On
Gary Myers leaves behind a racing legacy that spans more than six decades. From his family’s early connection to Bowman Gray Stadium to his own NASCAR Cup Series career, his SMART Modified Tour championship and his 38 Bowman Gray victories, he became an important figure in Southeast stock car racing.
His sons Burt and Jason continued that tradition, and grandson Slate’s 2026 Bowman Gray victory demonstrated that the family story was still evolving even in Gary’s final year.
For NASCAR and short-track fans searching for information about former NASCAR driver Gary Myers, his career is ultimately about more than statistics. Myers helped connect four generations of a racing family, leaving a lasting mark on Bowman Gray Stadium and the broader Modified racing community.
Gary Myers’ legacy will continue through the Myers family and the generations of racers who carry his name—share your memories or stay tuned for the latest updates from the racing world.