Chesterfield's Eddie Crouse, Tommy Ellis Join Raceway Hall of Greats
TL;DR: Richmond Raceway inducted Chesterfield County residents Eddie Crouse and Tommy Ellis into its Wall of Greats on October 27, 2026, honoring their multiple NASCAR series championships.
Quick facts
- Who: Eddie Crouse and Tommy Ellis, Chesterfield County residents
- What: Inducted into Richmond Raceway's Wall of Greats
- When: October 27, 2026
- Where: Richmond Raceway
The story
Richmond Raceway honored two Chesterfield County racing legends on October 27, 2026, by unveiling their images in the track's Wall of Greats, a display located in the infield area that celebrates racing history.
Eddie Crouse won back-to-back NASCAR national Modified titles in 1962 and 1963, becoming the first Richmonder to win a national NASCAR championship. His career accolades include induction into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame (1993), selection as one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998), the first inductee of the Virginia Motorsports Hall of Fame (2003), induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2007), and ranking as No. 4 on the All-Time Top 10 Modified Drivers list (2010). His son, Cliff Crouse, attended the unveiling ceremony.
Tommy Ellis won the last national late model sportsman championship in 1981 and captured the Busch Series championship in 1988. Known as "Terrible" Tommy Ellis for his aggressive driving style, he competed in the 1970s and 1980s and won 22 Xfinity races. Ellis also appeared as a driver in the film "Days of Thunder." He was present at the Wall of Greats unveiling at Richmond Raceway.
Key players
- Eddie Crouse: NASCAR driver, Multiple-time champion
- Tommy Ellis: NASCAR driver, Multiple-time champion and Days of Thunder actor
- Richmond Raceway: Track honoring racing legends
Key dates
- October 27, 2026: Eddie Crouse and Tommy Ellis inducted into Richmond Raceway Wall of Greats
Why it matters: The induction recognizes two of Chesterfield County's most significant contributions to motorsports history and celebrates the region's legacy in NASCAR competition.
Places
Development timeline
- 1960Eddie Crouse becomes South Boston Speedway's first NASCAR track champion: Crouse wins the track championship in his early career [source]
- 1962-1963Eddie Crouse wins back-to-back NASCAR national Modified titles: Becomes the first Richmonder to win a national NASCAR championship [source]
- 1981Tommy Ellis wins last national late model sportsman championship: Ellis captures the final championship in the late model sportsman series [source]
- 1988Tommy Ellis wins Busch Series championship: Ellis captures the Busch Series title with 22 Xfinity race wins in his career [source]
- October 27, 2026Eddie Crouse and Tommy Ellis inducted into Richmond Raceway Wall of Greats: Both Chesterfield County residents honored with images unveiled in the raceway's infield area [source]
Related links
Read the original at The Richmonder →