From 1957 until 1976, Neil “Soapy” Castles competed in the NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series.
Former NASCAR Cup Series driver and movie stuntman Neil Castles passes away at age 88.
Neil Castles, a 1957–1976 NASCAR Cup Series driver who also worked as a stuntman and transportation coordinator in the motion picture industry, passed away on Thursday at the age of 88. The death of Castles was reported by veteran NASCAR reporter Deb Williams.
Castles, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, got his start in racing through a soapbox derby, earning him the moniker “Soapy,” and he began his career at the age of 17 by assisting in the preparation of a car that Buddy Shuman would drive in 1951 Southern 500. In June 1957, Castles made his Cup racing debut at Columbia Speedway, finishing 51 laps before retiring due to engine trouble.
Castles would go on to enjoy a lengthy Cup career, starting 498 games overall from 1957 to 1976. Castles never finished first in a race; his best finish was second on four occasions. Nevertheless, he finished in the top five in points in 1969 and 1970 and was credited with 51 top-five finishes. The Grand National East Series, a second-tier division created to accommodate tracks that had been removed from the Cup Series schedule due to contraction brought on by the entry of Winston as the series title sponsor, was where Castles achieved his greatest success in NASCAR, winning the championship in 1972.
Fame as a stunt driver
Castles gained fame as a stunt driver in addition to his racing exploits, primarily for racing-related films filmed in the 1960s and 1970s. Speedway with Elvis Presley, Greased Lightning with Richard Pryor, and Six Pack with Kenny Rogers were among the movies Castles worked on (1982). Castles also had a number of acting credits in films like The Night of the Cat (1973) and Challenge (1974), as well as numerous credits in the transportation industry as a picture car coordinator or driver, most recently in Homeland (2011) and The Hunger Games (2012).
Castles has made 498 Cup starts, which ranks third among all drivers without a single victory, behind only Buddy Arrington (653) and J.D. McDuffie (453). (560). Arrington passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84.
Neil Castles Age, family, and Early Life
Neil Castles was 88 years old when he passed away. He was born on October 1, 1934, in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. He was of American nationality.
The facts and identity of his parents aren’t known.
Neil Castles Career, What was his profession?
Castles, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, got his start in racing through a soapbox derby, earning him the moniker “Soapy,” and he began his career at the age of 17 by assisting in the preparation of a car that Buddy Shuman would drive in 1951 Southern 500. In June 1957, Castles made his Cup racing debut at Columbia Speedway, finishing 51 laps before retiring due to engine trouble.
Castles gained fame as a stunt driver in addition to his racing exploits, primarily for racing-related films filmed in the 1960s and 1970s. Speedway with Elvis Presley, Greased Lightning with Richard Pryor, and Six Pack with Kenny Rogers were among the movies Castles worked on (1982).
Castles also had a number of acting credits in films like The Night of the Cat (1973) and Challenge (1974), as well as numerous credits in the transportation industry as a picture car coordinator or driver, most recently in Homeland (2011) and The Hunger Games (2012).
Which school did he go to? What was his major?
The details on the high school he attended or the university he graduated from are all under review.
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Neil Castles Wife, Was he married? Any children?
He was caring for Jean, his 60-year-old wife, who had been given an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis in her mid-teens. He has a son and two daughters.
His social media reach
We did a quick search for the social media presence of him but weren’t able to find him on any social platform.
Neil Castles’s Height, Weight, Sexual orientation, Body.
| Height | N / A |
| Weight | N / A |
| Hair Color | Grey |
| Body type | Fit |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
Interesting facts about Neil Castles’s which you should be known about.
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac sign | Libra |
| Age | 88 |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Wife | Jean |
| Children | 3 |