# Tommy Ellis

Tommy Ellis (born August 8, 1947) is an American former stock car racing driver who competed in the 1970s and 1980s. Often referred to as "Terrible" Tommy Ellis for his rough tactics, he won the last national late model sportsman championship in 1981, the final year before the format changed from "points chasing" late model sportsman racing at various short tracks across the country (now known as the Whelen All-American Series) to the current touring format, currently known as the Xfinity Series, the next year. He won the successor series in 1988.

## Racing career

Ellis's success (12 poles and 8 wins) in the first two seasons of the Busch Series earned him a shot at a Winston Cup ride. Driving for most of three seasons in the Chevrolet camp, his best finish was an eighth at Dover in 1986. He was also considered an excellent sub-driver in the Cup Series, filling in for Neil Bonnett in 1989 and replacing a suspended Geoff Bodine at Junior Johnson Motorsports two years later.
After his release from Freedlander Racing in 1986, Ellis returned to the Busch Series with J&J Racing. Between 1988 and 1990 Ellis won nine poles and seven races. He was the Busch Series champion in 1988 in an unsponsored Buick. In 1991, he competed in the Winston at Charlotte Motor Speedway, replacing Bodine.
His Busch Series career totals are 28 poles (second all-time behind Mark Martin) and 22 wins (tied for thirteenth all-time with Sam Ard).
Ellis's last Busch Series start was in 1995.
Ellis was a stunt driver for the film Days of Thunder along with Bobby Hamilton and drove race cars numbered 51 and 18 in selected races.

## Legal troubles

In 2010, Ellis and his wife Brenda were sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal tax-evasion charges. They had underreported the income generated by their car-wash business by over $300,000 between 2003 and 2007.

## Motorsports career results
### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

#### Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | NWCC | Pts | Ref |
| 1976 | Champion Racing | 10 | Ford | RSD | DAY | CAR | RCH | BRI | ATL | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV 21 | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | ONT | | 92nd | 100 | |
| 1981 | Ellis Racing | 55 | Chevy | RSD | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | TWS | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH 26 | DOV | MAR 30 | NWS | CLT 4 | CAR | ATL 33 | RSD | 62nd | 392 | |
| 1982 | Gordon Racing | 24 | Buick | DAY DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 75th | 260 | |
| 1982 | Ellis Racing | 55 | Chevy | | RCH 11 | BRI | ATL | CAR | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | POC | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH 11 | DOV | NWS | CLT | MAR | CAR | ATL | RSD | | 75th | 260 | |
| 1983 | Terry Motorsports | 32 | Buick | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | BRI | CLT 15 | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | ATL | RSD | | NA | - | |
| 1984 | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | 4 | Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI 28 | NWS 29 | DAR 23 | MAR 29 | TAL 13 | NSV 14 | DOV | CLT 14 | RSD | POC | MCH 38 | DAY 14 | NSV 11 | POC 34 | TAL 9 | MCH 36 | BRI 28 | DAR 19 | RCH 15 | DOV 34 | MAR 17 | CLT 33 | NWS 14 | CAR | ATL | RSD | | 31st | 1738 | |
| 1985 | Freedlander Motorsports | 18 | Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | CLT 20 | RSD | POC | MCH 21 | DAY 17 | POC 36 | TAL 30 | MCH | BRI 30 | DAR 33 | RCH 10 | DOV 26 | MAR 30 | NWS 11 | CLT 40 | CAR 30 | ATL 36 | RSD | | | | 34th | 1100 | |
| 1986 | Freedlander Motorsports | 18 | Chevy | DAY 19 | RCH 24 | CAR 14 | ATL 13 | BRI 11 | DAR 29 | NWS | MAR 24 | TAL 32 | DOV 9 | CLT 35 | RSD | POC 15 | MCH 14 | DAY 38 | POC 9 | TAL 34 | GLN | MCH 39 | BRI 12 | DAR | RCH 21 | DOV 8 | MAR 26 | NWS 13 | CLT 31 | CAR 35 | ATL 12 | RSD | | | 23rd | 2393 | |
| 1987 | Freedlander Motorsports | 18 | Chevy | DAY DNQ | CAR 38 | RCH 27 | ATL 17 | DAR 40 | NWS | BRI | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | POC | RSD | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | RSD | ATL | | | 58th | 286 | |
| 1988 | Donlavey Racing | 90 | Ford | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI DNQ | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | | | | | | | | 91st | 37 | |
| 1988 | Winkle Motorsports | 97 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 30 | NWS | CAR | PHO | ATL 42 | | | | 91st | 37 | |
| 1989 | Wood Brothers Racing | 1 | Ford | DAY | CAR | ATL | RCH | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | SON | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI DNQ | DAR | RCH | DOV | | | | | | | | | 66th | 115 | |
| 1989 | Wood Brothers Racing | 21 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAR 29 | CLT 18 | NWS 16 | CAR | | | | | | | | 66th | 115 |
| 1989 | Hendrick Motorsports | 18 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PHO DNQ | ATL | | | | 66th | 115 | |
| 1990 | Speed Racing | 83 | Olds | DAY | RCH DNQ | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT | DOV | SON | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV 31 | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | PHO | ATL | | | 106th | - | |
| 1991 | Junior Johnson & Associates | 97 | Ford | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT 16 | DOV 21 | SON | POC | MCH | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT | CAR | PHO | ATL | | | 70th | 100 | |

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1982 | Gordon Racing | Buick | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1986 | Freelander Motorsports | Chevy | 21 | 19 |
| 1987 | Freelander Motorsports | Chevy | DNQ | DNQ |

#### Busch Series

NASCAR Busch Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | NBSC | Pts |
| 1982 | Ellis Racing | 12 | Pontiac | DAY 22 | RCH 25 | | MAR 33 | DAR 15 | HCY 20 | SBO 14 | CRW 11 | RCH 3 | LGY 16 | DOV 4 | HCY 10 | CLT 4 | ASH 2 | HCY 2 | SBO 16 | CAR 29 | CRW 7 | SBO 3 | HCY 2 | LGY 1 | IRP 2 | | HCY 7 | RCH 15 | MAR 4 | CLT 38 | HCY 2 | MAR 25 | | | | | | | 3rd | 3873 |
| 1982 | Ellis Racing | 36 | Pontiac | | | BRI 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | BRI 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd | 3873 |
| 1983 | Ellis Racing | 12 | Pontiac | DAY 7 | RCH 16 | CAR 11 | HCY 1* | MAR 9 | NWS 13 | SBO 1 | GPS 24 | LGY 19 | DOV 8 | BRI 3 | CLT 34 | SBO 1* | HCY 1* | ROU 2 | SBO 1* | ROU 16 | CRW 20 | ROU 6* | SBO 1* | HCY 3 | LGY 3 | IRP 5 | GPS 14 | BRI 3 | HCY 4* | DAR 7 | RCH 2* | NWS 1 | SBO 4 | MAR 25 | ROU 16* | CLT 12 | HCY 19 | MAR 31 | 4th | 4929 |
| 1984 | Ellis Racing | 12 | Olds | DAY 35 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | 1440 |
| 1984 | Ellis Racing | 12 | Pontiac | | RCH 15 | CAR 27 | HCY 6 | MAR 29 | DAR 15 | ROU 2* | NSV | LGY | MLW | DOV | CLT | SBO 23 | HCY | ROU | SBO 25 | ROU 12* | HCY | IRP | LGY | SBO 3 | | | RCH 1* | NWS | CLT 26 | HCY | CAR | MAR | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | 1440 | |
| 1984 | Ellis Racing | 36 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | BRI 18 | DAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24th | 1440 |
| 1985 | Ellis Racing | 12 | Olds | DAY 10 | CAR 29 | | | | DAR 22 | | | DOV 2 | CLT 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 26 | HCY | CAR | | | | | | | | | | 16th | 2065 |
| 1985 | Ellis Racing | 12 | Pontiac | | | HCY 23 | BRI 15 | MAR 3 | | SBO 25 | LGY 1* | | | SBO 1* | HCY | ROU | IRP | SBO | LGY 1* | HCY | MLW | BRI | DAR | RCH 1* | NWS | ROU | | | | MAR 1* | | | | | | | | | 16th | 2065 |
| 1986 | Ellis Racing | 12 | Pontiac | DAY 31 | CAR | HCY | MAR | BRI | DAR | SBO | LGY | JFC | DOV | CLT | SBO | HCY | ROU | IRP | SBO | RAL | OXF | SBO | HCY | LGY | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH 26 | DOV | MAR | ROU | CLT | CAR | MAR | | | | | 67th | 155 |
| 1987 | Falk Racing | 04 | Pontiac | DAY | HCY | MAR 30 | DAR | BRI | LGY | SBO 1 | CLT | | | ROU 21 | JFC | OXF | | | | | | | | | RCH 32 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30th | 1362 |
| 1987 | J&J Racing | 58 | Buick | | | | | | | | | DOV 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 11 | | DOV 37 | | CLT 19 | CAR 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30th | 1362 |
| 1987 | J&J Racing | 58 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | IRP 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 30th | 1362 |
| 1987 | J&J Racing | 58 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SBO 6 | HCY | RAL | LGY 26 | ROU 20 | BRI | JFC | | | | MAR 28 | | | MAR 32 | | | | | | | | | 30th | 1362 |
| 1988 | J&J Racing | 99 | Buick | DAY 18 | HCY 4 | CAR 6 | MAR 22 | DAR 14 | BRI 2 | LNG 1* | NZH 10 | SBO 3 | NSV 20 | CLT 12 | DOV 6 | ROU 6 | LAN 17 | LVL 1 | MYB 25* | OXF 7 | SBO 2 | HCY 3 | LNG 1* | IRP 3 | ROU 7 | BRI 24 | DAR 14 | RCH 4 | DOV 2 | MAR 15* | CLT 6 | CAR 9 | MAR 3 | | | | | | 1st | 4281 |
| 1989 | J&J Racing | 99 | Buick | DAY 39 | CAR 3 | MAR 1 | HCY 2 | DAR 16 | BRI 29 | NZH 2 | SBO 1* | LAN 6 | NSV 7 | CLT 34 | DOV 5 | ROU 16 | LVL 21 | VOL 2 | MYB 9 | SBO 2 | HCY 1* | DUB 12 | IRP 15 | ROU 3 | BRI 8 | DAR 6 | RCH 2 | DOV 12 | MAR 29 | CLT 16 | CAR 10 | MAR 10 | | | | | | | 3rd | 3945 |
| 1990 | J&J Racing | 99 | Buick | DAY 35 | RCH 10 | CAR 6 | MAR 9* | HCY 2 | DAR 18 | BRI 21 | LAN 3 | SBO 15 | NZH 20 | HCY 14 | CLT 5 | DOV 33 | ROU 15 | VOL 14 | MYB 7* | OXF 15 | NHA 1* | SBO 7 | DUB 18 | IRP 16 | ROU 9 | BRI 9 | DAR 11 | RCH 15 | DOV 27 | MAR 27 | CLT 28 | NHA 5 | CAR 8 | MAR 12 | | | | | 6th | 3829 |
| 1991 | Speedway Motorsports | 56 | Buick | DAY 13 | RCH 30 | CAR 16 | MAR 23 | VOL 29 | HCY DNQ | DAR 31 | BRI | LAN | SBO | NZH | CLT | DOV | ROU | HCY | MYB | GLN | OXF | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 33rd | 1253 |
| 1991 | Ellis Racing | 12 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NHA 43 | SBO | DUB | IRP | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH 18 | DOV 7 | CLT 4 | NHA 13 | CAR 40 | | | | | | | | | 33rd | 1253 | |
| 1991 | Ellis Racing | 12 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MAR 26 | | | | | | | 33rd | 1253 | |
| 1992 | Ellis Racing | 14 | Chevy | DAY DNQ | CAR | RCH 20 | ATL | MAR 13 | DAR | BRI | HCY | LAN | DUB | NZH | CLT | | | | | | NHA 33 | TAL | IRP | ROU | MCH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 43rd | 841 |
| 1992 | Ellis Racing | 14 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | DOV 22 | ROU | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 43rd | 841 |
| 1992 | Ellis Racing | 23 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MYB 29 | GLN | VOL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 43rd | 841 |
| 1992 | Ellis Racing | 12 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NHA 30 | BRI | DAR | RCH 35 | | | MAR 30 | CAR | | | | | | | | | 43rd | 841 | |
| 1992 | Ellis Racing | 12 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DOV 23 | CLT | | | | | | | | | | | | | 43rd | 841 | |
| 1992 | Ellis Racing | 77 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | HCY 28 | | | | | | | 43rd | 841 | |
| 1993 | Key Motorsports | 05 | Chevy | DAY | CAR | RCH | DAR | BRI | HCY | ROU | MAR | NZH | CLT | DOV | MYB | GLN | MLW | TAL | IRP | MCH | NHA | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | ROU | CLT | MAR DNQ | CAR DNQ | HCY 5 | ATL | | | | | | | | 76th | 155 |
| 1994 | Key Motorsports | 05 | Chevy | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | MAR 10 | DAR | HCY 30 | BRI | ROU 6 | NHA | NZH | CLT 16 | DOV 41 | MYB 34 | GLN | MLW | SBO 28 | TAL | HCY | IRP | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH 38 | DOV 37 | CLT | MAR | CAR | | | | | | | | 46th | 753 |
| 1995 | Bobby Jones Racing | 50 | Ford | DAY | CAR | RCH | ATL | NSV | DAR | BRI | HCY | NHA | NZH | CLT | DOV | MYB | GLN | MLW | TAL | SBO | IRP 17 | MCH 34 | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | CLT | CAR | HOM | | | | | | | | | | 77th | 173 |

### ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series results :
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | APSSC | Pts | Ref |
| 1988 | Hendrick Motorsports | 18 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | TAL | FRS | PCS | ROC | POC | WIN | KIL | ACS | SLM | POC | TAL | DEL | FRS | ISF | DSF | SLM | ATL 2 | 102nd | - | |