# Rodney Combs

Rodney Combs (born March 27, 1950) is an American former stock car racing driver. He has not been in NASCAR since 1997, when he was released from his ride in the Busch Series. Combs entered NASCAR after many years on the open-wheel and short track circuit in the Midwest, racing with Mark Martin and Dick Trickle. Combs was a 2001 inductee in the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.

## Racing career
### Winston Cup Series

Combs made his debut in 1982, in the then Winston Cup Series. Driving the #5 for J.D. Stacy, Combs qualified the Stacy-Pak Buick to 28th on the starting position in the fall race at Atlanta, and finished in 9th place, leading five laps.
Combs was invited back by Stacy to drive the #12 Stroh's Buick in the 1983 fall race at Charlotte. Combs started 33rd and appeared to earn another top-ten, but extremely late in the going, Combs' car blew an engine, putting him to 22nd.
The next time Combs showed up was in 1984. This time, Combs was behind the #2 Red Roof Inns Buick owned by Robert Harrington. Combs made it into the August Michigan race with a 19th place qualifying effort. He completed all but eight laps en route to a 25th-place finish.
Combs, who was still doing Midwest racing, disappeared back to those ranks for a year, and then returned with a five-race deal in 1986. Driving Harrington's #2 Solder Seal/Gunk Pontiac, Combs had a best of 16th at Charlotte and a 19th at Talladega, where he led four laps. However, Combs only finished the Charlotte race, falling out of the other four.
Combs drove for a number of teams in 1987, yet still could not crack the top ten. His best run was a 16th at Pocono, although he did have five other top-20s. He ran the majority of the races for Elmo Langley's #64 team, although he did have some runs with DiGard Motorsports and Roger Hamby. Overall, he had 14 starts in 1987, and earned a 35th-place position in points.
Combs ran nineteen races in 1988, the most active year of his career. Seventeen of them were for the #97 ACDelco team, while Combs competed in one race for Ken Allen and another for Richard Childress Racing. Despite all the starts, Combs had a worse year than in 1987, despite matching the 35th in points. His best finish was 11th at Bristol, but he only had one other top-20, a 14th at Michigan. Combs, however, did earn his first career top-10 starting spot, a 9th at Richmond. Combs' biggest issue was 11 DNFs, though to Combs' defense, all but one of them was mechanical.
In 1989, Combs only made nine starts and did not even crack the top-20. His best run was a 23rd at Darlington, driving for Lake Speed. Yet, Combs ran the majority of the races for the #89 Evinrude Pontiac. The best run for that team was a 27th at Phoenix. Combs also had three races in 1989 for Allen.
Combs made his last five career Cup starts in 1990. Combs ran all five races for the #89 team, but could only manage a best of 27th at Phoenix. In addition, Combs only finished two of the races. Overall in his Cup career, Combs had one top-ten finish and one top-10 start.

### Busch Series

Combs made his Busch debut in 1982, the same year he made his Cup debut. Driving for J.D. Stacy again, Combs drove the #4 Stacy Pontiac into the Charlotte field with a 7th place starting position. Like he would in his Cup debut, Combs came home with a 9th place showing.
Combs made another one-off start in 1983. Once again, Combs ran at Charlotte, where he qualified a 4th. This time, Combs could not improve on his first finish, but still came home with a 10th-place showing.
Combs disappeared for three years, and was back in 1987, with a four-race deal with the #67 J&J Steel car. His best run once again came at Charlotte, adding another tenth place on. Also noteworthy was a start and finish of 13th at Darlington.
Combs next race came in 1990, driving for Ferree Racing at Charlotte. He started 26th, but finished 37th after his carburetor failed.
Combs finally made his first full season in NASCAR in 1993, driving the #1 Luxaire Ford for the full season, qualifying for all but one race. Combs earned three top-10s in 1993, with a career-best eighth at Milwaukee Mile and back-to-back tenths at Martinsville and Nazareth. Even more to Combs advantage, were a low DNF count of three, an impressive number for someone who is basically a rookie. Most impressive of all, by far, is his lowest finish. His lowest finish of the year was at Darlington, where he finished 26th. This contributed to Combs earning a 15th in points, despite missing one race. Lastly, Combs qualified well too, the best being a triplet of fourth-place starts, of which he converted into a 10th, 12th and 15th-place finish in the race.
With an impressive season with a low-budget team, Combs was hired by Petty Enterprises to drive the #43 Black Flag/French's Pontiac the following year. Despite the famous ride, 1994 was a roller coaster. Combs did not make four of the 27 races, but matched his three top-10s of '93. Combs best runs were a pair of 9th at Martinsville and Myrtle Beach and a 10th at Bristol. Yet, Combs did have seven other top-20s. However, in addition to poor qualifying results with the first year team, Combs' team had 9 DNFs, a tough thing to overcome. (In Combs' defense, all but two were mechanical) This led to a poor 21st place showing in points.
Combs' best career year in any NASCAR series came in 1995, where he finished 11th in points. This year, Combs made all the races, and this enabled him to once again earn three top-10s. Combs earned new career bests of 6th at Myrtle Beach and Atlanta, and tacked on a 10th at Dover International Speedway and a large 16 other top-20s to boot. Along with a lesser DNF count (4), Combs' team looked in good shape for 1996.
However, 1996 was not Combs' best year, and it began to lead to his departure from the sport. Combs made all but one start in 1996, and earned 18th in points, after another up-and-down year. Combs earned a pair of sixths as his only top-10s in 1996 at Daytona and Atlanta. (Combs would later prove to have a career best finish of 6th-four times) Combs did earn what would prove to be his best career start: a 3rd at Myrtle Beach. However, on the flipside, Combs only earned 9 top-20s, down from 19 in 1995, the primary reason for his points slide.
1997 was the end of Combs' career. Petty Enterprises sold the team to David Ridling. He only made five starts for the team before being released, the best being an 11th-place finish at Atlanta. He was replaced by Dennis Setzer and replaced Setzer in the #78 Mark III Financial Chevy. He ran a best of 20th at Richmond in three races for the team. Yet, after Nashville, Combs disappeared from the team and has not been racing in big-league NASCAR since.

### Craftsman Truck Series

When racing for Petty Enterprises in 1995 and 1996, Combs made five starts in 1995 and one in 1996 for in the Truck Series. Combs made his series debut at Milwaukee, qualifying ninth and finishing 10th. Combs then came back at IRP, qualifying 9th and once again coming home with a top-10: this time a solid 4th. Combs made three more starts in 1995, with finishes of 11th, 14th and 16th. Combs also added on one more start in 1996. Driving at North Wilkesboro, Combs managed a career-best 4th place start. However, he came home with a career-worst finish of 20th.
Combs has not raced in NASCAR since.

## 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 | NWCC | Pts | Ref |
| 1982 | Jim Stacy Racing | 5 | Buick | DAY | RCH | BRI | ATL | CAR | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | POC | RSD | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | NWS | CLT | MAR | CAR | ATL 9 | RSD | 71st | 143 | |
| 1983 | Jim Stacy Racing | 12 | Buick | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | BRI | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT 22 | CAR | ATL | RSD | 87th | 97 | |
| 1984 | Harrington Racing | 2 | Buick | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | NWS | DAR | MAR | TAL | NSV | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY | NSV | POC | TAL | MCH 25 | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NWS | CAR | ATL | RSD | NA | 0 | |
| 1986 | Harrington Racing | 2 | Chevy | DAY | RCH | CAR | ATL | BRI | DAR | NWS | MAR | TAL | DOV | CLT | RSD | POC | MCH | DAY 32 | POC | TAL 19 | GLN | | | | | | | | | | ATL 37 | RSD | | 44th | 421 | |
| 1986 | Harrington Racing | 2 | Pontiac | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MCH 29 | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT 16 | CAR | | | | | | 44th | 421 | |
| 1987 | DiGard Motorsports | 10 | Olds | DAY 19 | CAR | RCH | ATL | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 35th | 1098 | |
| 1987 | DiGard Motorsports | 10 | Chevy | | | | | DAR 37 | NWS 20 | BRI | MAR | TAL | CLT | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 35th | 1098 |
| 1987 | Langley Racing | 64 | Ford | | | | | | | | | | | DOV 20 | POC 20 | RSD | MCH 23 | DAY 31 | POC 16 | TAL 19 | GLN 23 | MCH 31 | BRI 23 | DAR 27 | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | | | | | | | | | | 35th | 1098 | |
| 1987 | Hamby Motorsports | 12 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT 37 | CAR | RSD | ATL | | 35th | 1098 | |
| 1988 | Inglass Racing | 0 | Olds | DAY Wth | RCH | CAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 35th | 1468 | |
| 1988 | Winkle Motorsports | 97 | Buick | | | | ATL 27 | DAR 32 | BRI DNQ | NWS 23 | MAR DNQ | TAL 38 | CLT 32 | DOV 29 | RSD | POC 34 | MCH 30 | DAY 33 | POC 36 | TAL 29 | GLN 24 | MCH 14 | BRI 11 | DAR 21 | RCH 21 | DOV 40 | MAR DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | 35th | 1468 |
| 1988 | Richard Childress Racing | 22 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CLT DNQ | NWS | CAR 40 | PHO | | | | 35th | 1468 | |
| 1988 | AAG Racing | 34 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ATL 29 | | 35th | 1468 | |
| 1989 | Mueller Brothers Racing | 89 | Pontiac | DAY 37 | | | | | | | | | CLT DNQ | DOV | SON | POC | MCH 40 | DAY | POC | TAL DNQ | GLN | MCH DNQ | BRI | | | | | CLT 32 | NWS | CAR | PHO 27 | ATL 41 | | 42nd | 470 | |
| 1989 | AAG Racing | 34 | Buick | | CAR 40 | ATL | RCH 32 | DAR 29 | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL DNQ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 42nd | 470 | |
| 1989 | Speed Racing | 83 | Olds | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DAR 23 | RCH | DOV | MAR | | | | | | | | | | | | 42nd | 470 |
| 1990 | Mueller Brothers Racing | 89 | Pontiac | DAY DNQ | RCH | CAR | ATL | DAR | BRI | NWS | MAR | TAL | CLT 33 | DOV | SON | POC | MCH 40 | DAY | POC | TAL | GLN | MCH 34 | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | NWS | CLT DNQ | CAR | PHO 27 | ATL 30 | | 46th | 323 | |

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1987 | DiGard Motorsports | Oldsmobile | 36 | 19 |
| 1988 | Inglass Racing | Oldsmobile | Wth | Wth |
| 1989 | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 30 | 37 |
| 1990 | Mueller Brothers Racing | Pontiac | 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 | Jim Stacy Racing | 4 | Pontiac | DAY | RCH | BRI | MAR | DAR | HCY | SBO | CRW | RCH | LGY | DOV | HCY | CLT | ASH | HCY | SBO | CAR | CRW | SBO | HCY | LGY | IRP | BRI | HCY | RCH | MAR | CLT 9 | HCY | MAR | | | | | | | 112th | 138 |
| 1983 | | 89 | Pontiac | DAY | RCH | CAR | HCY | MAR | NWS | SBO | GPS | LGY | DOV | BRI | CLT | SBO | HCY | ROU | SBO | ROU | CRW | ROU | SBO | HCY | LGY | IRP | GPS | BRI | HCY | DAR | RCH | NWS | SBO | MAR | ROU | CLT 10 | HCY | MAR | 107th | 134 |
| 1987 | | 67 | Pontiac | DAY 10 | HCY | MAR | DAR 13 | BRI | LGY | SBO | CLT 32 | DOV 28 | IRP | ROU | JFC | OXF | SBO | HCY | RAL | LGY | ROU | BRI | JFC | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | CAR | MAR | | | | | | | | | 41st | 404 |
| 1988 | | 67 | Pontiac | DAY DNQ | HCY | CAR | MAR | DAR | BRI | LNG | NZH | SBO | NSV | CLT | DOV | ROU | LAN | LVL | MYB | OXF | SBO | HCY | LNG | IRP | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | CAR | MAR | | | | | | NA | - |
| 1990 | Ferree Racing | 49 | Pontiac | DAY | RCH | CAR | MAR | HCY | DAR | BRI | LAN | SBO | NZH | HCY | CLT 37 | DOV | ROU | VOL | MYB | OXF | NHA | SBO | DUB | IRP | ROU | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | MAR | CLT | NHA | CAR | MAR | | | | | 117th | 0 |
| 1993 | Rexrode Galiano Motorsports | 1 | Ford | DAY 14 | CAR 23 | RCH 19 | DAR 18 | BRI 23 | HCY 21 | ROU 12 | MAR 10 | NZH 10 | CLT 19 | DOV 18 | MYB 22 | GLN 16 | MLW 8 | TAL 14 | IRP 25 | MCH 14 | NHA 11 | BRI 20 | DAR 26 | RCH DNQ | DOV 25 | ROU 19 | CLT 19 | MAR 19 | CAR 15 | HCY 25 | ATL 14 | | | | | | | | 15th | 2969 |
| 1994 | Petty Enterprises | 43 | Pontiac | DAY 11 | CAR 27 | RCH 38 | ATL 18 | MAR 9 | DAR 28 | HCY DNQ | BRI 10 | ROU 28 | NHA 29 | NZH 38 | CLT 27 | DOV 14 | MYB 9 | GLN 11 | MLW 14 | SBO 13 | TAL 28 | HCY DNQ | IRP 17 | MCH 39 | BRI | DAR 42 | RCH 35 | DOV 24 | CLT 32 | MAR | CAR | | | | | | | | 21st | 2131 |
| 1995 | Petty Enterprises | 43 | Pontiac | DAY 16 | CAR 11 | RCH 20 | ATL 6 | NSV 16 | DAR 17 | BRI 19 | HCY 19 | NHA 12 | NZH 21 | CLT 41 | DOV 11 | MYB 6 | GLN 14 | MLW 23 | TAL 39 | SBO 13 | IRP 33 | MCH 17 | BRI 15 | DAR 20 | RCH 36 | DOV 10 | CLT 15 | CAR 17 | HOM 22 | | | | | | | | | | 11th | 2782 |
| 1996 | Petty Enterprises | 43 | Chevy | DAY 6 | | | ATL 6 | | DAR 34 | | HCY 21 | NZH 17 | CLT 26 | | | MYB 22 | GLN 21 | MLW 28 | NHA 27 | TAL 35 | IRP 28 | MCH 20 | BRI 22 | DAR 17 | RCH 17 | DOV 12 | CLT DNQ | CAR 34 | HOM 38 | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 2396 |
| 1996 | Petty Enterprises | 43 | Pontiac | | CAR DNQ | RCH 11 | | NSV 19 | | BRI 28 | | | | DOV 11 | SBO 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 2396 |
| 1996 | Ken Wilson | 02 | Chevy | | CAR 39 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18th | 2396 |
| 1997 | Ridling Motorsports | 43 | Chevy | DAY 11 | CAR 15 | RCH 31 | ATL 33 | LVS 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 45th | 743 |
| 1997 | Mark III Racing | 78 | Chevy | | | | | | DAR 32 | HCY DNQ | TEX | BRI 20 | NSV 28 | TAL DNQ | NHA | NZH | CLT | DOV | SBO | GLN | MLW | MYB | GTY | IRP | MCH | BRI | DAR | RCH | DOV | CLT | CAL | CAR | HOM | | | | | | | | 45th | 743 |

#### Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck 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 | NCTC | Pts | Ref |
| 1995 | Petty Enterprises | 43 | Chevy | PHO | TUS | SGS | MMR | POR | EVG | I70 | LVL | BRI | MLW 10 | CNS | HPT | IRP 4 | FLM | RCH 16 | MAR 14 | NWS 11 | SON | MMR | PHO | | | | | 34th | 660 | |
| 1996 | Combs Racing | 49 | Chevy | HOM | PHO | POR | EVG | TUS | CNS | HPT | BRI | NZH | MLW | LVL | I70 | IRP | FLM | GLN | NSV | RCH | NHA | MAR | NWS 20 | SON | MMR | PHO | LVS | 104th | 103 | |

### 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 | APSC | Pts | Ref |
| 1988 | | 4 | Olds | DAY 18 | ATL | TAL | FRS | PCS | ROC | POC | WIN | KIL | ACS | SLM | POC | TAL | DEL | FRS | ISF | DSF | SLM | ATL | 96th | - | |