---

ARCA: Thomas Ferrel Harris dies at age 59

13 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Thomas Ferrel Harris, who raced on the ARCA circuit across four decades, has died. He was 59.

Harris, who underwent heart bypass surgery about 10 years ago, suffered a heart attack Sunday, May 7 and succumbed that same day at Pikeville Methodist Hospital in Kentucky.

Harris, born in Seale, Alabama in 1940, joined ARCA in 1966 and raced with the tour as late as 1991. An ARCA regular at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, Harris had his greatest success at Daytona where he won the 1983 Daytona ARCA 200 and had three pole qualifying runs there in 1976, '81 and '84. Harris's best finish at Talladega was fifth in '90. In all, Harris led 119 laps in ARCA competition in 6 races.

Harris, a former coal operator, is survived by his wife, Bobbie Harris; a stepson, Charles Randall Salyers of Pikeville; two stepdaughters, Connie McPeek of Gallipolis, Ohio and Robbie Lou Salyers of Lexington, Kentucky; four sisters; four step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 9 at Thacker Funeral Home in Pikeville. He was buried Tuesday at Cox Farm Estate in Pikeville, where he lived.

Text provided by ARCA

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.