Ernie Gearson

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## Ernie Gearson

* 1979 - 2007
* 2008 - 2016

## Racing

### Piston Cup Racing Series Wins

30 career wins

**Ernie Gearson** was a Piston Cup racer who raced for Spare Mint from 1973 to 2016.

## Career

Ernie Gearson has always been known as one of the most stable racers of the 80's. Although not as good as some of the other racers of his era he has been known as a very stable racer who would finish in the top 20 in almost every race and rarely would DNF.

Ernie's first win is the 1974 Spare Mint 400 at Kansas. His last was in the 2013 Spare Mint 400. He won the Spare Mint 400 many times throughout his career, more than any other race.

His best year was in 1995 as he WON the Piston Cup.

He started to slow down and do poorly in 2004 and got a few Top 10s, somehow winning the 2005 Vitoline 400, but many engine failures because of his old model, leading to his worst performance ever in 2006. But then a model change in 2008 and also a new modified engine and many new parts made him faster, landing him 5th in 2008. It got him to win races too, even the 2012 Florida 500! He also somehow won the 2013 Spare Mint 400, which was his last win. His final race was the 2016 Frostar Air Filters 400, retiring after the race.

He still raced until 2016 and got some top 10's. He retired after the next gens started coming in. Ernie won a total of 30 races, 9 of which are Spare Mint 400's in 1985, 1992, 1995, 2000, and 2009. He holds a couple of records including the longest career at 44 years and the longest time to win a Florida 500 at 39 years.

## Pit Crew

Crew Chief - Ken Gearson (Ernie's little brother) (1979-1988), Dennis Motorson Jr. (1989-1998), Ernest B. Raykes (1999-2007), Todd Piston (2008-2016)

Pitty #1 - Piccolo Perry

Pitty #2 - Phil Tirechanger

Pitty #3 - Jason Rotor

Pitty #4 - Jordan Osama

Hauler - Dom Kateson (1979-2009) Xavier Roadault (2010-2016)

Team Owner - Gary Stackshaft

## List Of Wins:

1. 1982 Glen Ellen 350
2. 1982 Gears & Glory 450
3. 1983 Tuxedo Plumbing 400
4. 1985 Spare Mint 400
5. 1985 Sidewall Shine 350
6. 1991 Memphis 400
7. 1991 Tuxedo Plumbing 400
8. 1992 Spare Mint 400
9. 1995 Vinyl Toupee 350
10. 1995 Spare Mint 400
11. 1995 Dinoco Light 350
12. 1995 Georgia Safety Horn 350
13. 1995 Beachside 500
14. 1995 Dinoco 400
15. 2000 Spare Mint 400
16. 2003 Mood Springs Sputter Stop 350
17. 2005 Vitoline 400
18. **2008 Alabama 500**
19. 2009 Spare Mint 400
20. 2012 Florida 500

## Season Rankings:

1973: TBA

1974: TBA

1975: TBA

1976: TBA

1977: TBA

1978: TBA

1979: TBA

1980: TBA

1981: TBA

1982: TBA

1983: TBA

1984: TBA

1985: TBA

1986: TBA

1987: TBA

1988: TBA

1989: TBA

1990: TBA

1991: TBA

1992: TBA

1993: TBA

1994: TBA

1995: 1st

1996: TBA

1997: TBA

1998: TBA

1999: TBA

2000: TBA

2001: TBA

2002: TBA

2003: TBA

2004: TBA

2005: 26th

2006: TBA

2007: TBA

2008: 5th

2009: TBA

2010: TBA

2011: TBA

2012: TBA

2013: TBA

2014: TBA

2015: TBA

2016: 40th

## Gallery

Cars 1 diecastCars 3 diecastDiecast ArtworkErnie Gearson involved in the 2005 Dinoco 400 wreck.Ernie Gearson racing in the 2016 Dinoco Light 350.
## Trivia

* He shares his birthday with James Cleanair.
* His friends call him Giddyup.
* He was the first champion of the Junior Piston Cup Pro Series.