Raymond Garry Beadle

Raymond Garry Beadle was born on December 16, 1943 in Spur, Texas to Raymond and Linda Beadle. He was the oldest of three children. The Beadle family moved to Lubbock, Texas in 1953, where he graduated from Monterrey High School and attended Texas Tech University studying marketing and agriculture. Raymond was the father to six children and grandfather to three grandchildren.

Raymond started his career in Lubbock with the Texas Agricultural Department. In his spare time, he raced down 34th St. in Lubbock. It wasn’t long before he turned this weekend passion into a full-time career in automobile racing.

Raymond was a motor racing icon. He successfully campaigned cars in NASCAR, NHRA, IHRA, AHRA, and the World of Outlaws sprint car series, and was owner of Chaparral Trailer Company. He was also widely-credited with helping to create the motorsports collectibles and souvenir business as owner of Blue Max Racing, Inc. Raymond was a three-time NHRA World Funny Car Champion (1979-81).

In addition to his NHRA championships, he won three IHRA series titles and, in 1989, won the NASCAR Winston Cup championship as an owner. He was ranked 20th on the NHRA’s list of greatest drivers through its first 50 years.

Raymond was inducted earlier this year into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, in Detroit. He is a member of the 11th class of inductees into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, was the 2006 recipient of the Bruton Smith Legends Award in the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame, and was named to the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association's prestigious All-American team in 1980.

Upon retiring from motorsports in 1990, Raymond operated cattle and quarter horse ranches in Texas and Arkansas. He retired in Dallas. In later years, enjoying the good life and good food was Beadle’s pleasure, along with spending time with his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Gina Campisi.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Roz Beadle of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by his five children: Michele Beadle Wheeler of Plano, Texas and her husband Jeff, Stacey Beadle Harris of Coppell, Texas and her husband Clint, Ryan Beadle of Charlotte, North Carolina and his wife Amanda, Amber Campisi of Dallas, and Tara Campisi of Dallas.

He is affectionately known as “Uncle Buddy” by his nieces and nephews and as Grandpa Beadle to his grandchildren, Emily Petty, Sam Petty, and Brooklyn Campisi.

Other survivors include his siblings Ralph Beadle of Lubbock, Texas and his wife Linda, and Debbie Sartain of Waco, Texas and her husband Jim, as well as his lifelong best friend Tommy Smith, of Dallas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Baylor Health Care System Foundation Heart and Vascular Research at Baylorhealth.com