Racing champion dies at 58 after heart attack at track

Marty Ward, a famous race car driver, died on Sunday.AP

Marty Ward, a legendary short track race car driver, died at 58 on Sunday. He suffered a heart attack while competing at Anderson Motor Speedway in South Carolina on Saturday, the Southeast Super Trucks series said Sunday.

Ward, a six-time track champion at Greenville-Pickens Speedway and a three-time South Carolina State Champion in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series, had won the Southern Classic Stock Car feature race earlier that evening at Anderson Motor Speedway.

“Marty brought much fun and laughter to everyone he was around,” the Southeast Super Trucks series said in a statement. “His stories brought back great memories for us all. Marty never knew a stranger and made you feel like you had been friends since childhood.

“He was a man of integrity and honor. And in true Marty fashion, he left us with that huge smile and a victory lane flag in in hand, winning the very first race for the Southern Classic Stock Car division. Marty will be greatly missed by his racing family and friends.”

Ward also won with the Southeast Super Trucks on April 29 in the tour’s season opener at Anderson Motor Speedway. He was a champion throughout his career, including winning the Hooters Pro Cup Series, the UARA STARS Late Model Series, the NASCAR Sportsman Division and the NASCAR All-American Challenge Series.

More Sports:

Legendary Giants, Jets coach’s horse euthanized after collapsing a few strides from finishline

Women’s soccer star and wife of former Eagles TE announces retirement after World Cup flop

Yankees GM Brian Cashman has been here too long, Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo says

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Cayden Steele may be reached at [email protected]

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. By browsing this site, we may share your information with our social media partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.