Johnny Kieper

Johnny Kieper
BornJohn Kieper
February 2, 1932
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
DiedJuly 30, 2022(2022-07-30) (aged 90)
NASCAR Cup Series career
16 races run over 7 years
Best finish36th (1956)
First race1954 Race 16 (Gardena)
Last race1977 Los Angeles Times 500 (Ontario)
First win1956 Race 28 (Portland)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 8 3
ARCA Menards Series West career
62 races run over 13 years
Best finish10th (1956, 1976)
First race1954 Race 16 (Gardena)
Last race1982 Coors 250 (Phoenix)
First win1956 Race 28 (Portland)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 35 3
Statistics up to date as of October 28, 2026.

John Kieper (February 2, 1932 – July 30, 2022) was an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He was a longtime driver and car owner in the NASCAR Winston West Series.

Racing career

Kieper simultaneously made his NASCAR Grand National Series and NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model Division debut in 1954 in the second ever Pacific Coast Late Model race at Carrell Speedway, finishing twentieth.

Kieper ran two races in 1955, both combination races, where he finished second at Bay Meadows Speedway and seventeenth at Las Vegas Park Speedway due to a crash.

Kieper ran eight races in 1956, again all combination races, scoring two poles, seven top-tens, and a win at Portland Speedway, his only career win in both series. He finished tenth in the Pacific Coast Late Model standings.

Kieper made two Pacific Coast Late Model starts in 1957, finishing sixteenth at Portland and eighth at the Merced Fairgrounds. The race at Portland was a combination race.

Kieper did not compete in the series again until 1974, where he made four starts in the renamed Winston West Series, scoring a best finish of seventh twice.

Kieper made nine Winston West starts in 1975, scoring six top-tens with a best finish of second at Umatilla Speedway. These starts included two Winston Cup combination races, where he finished twentieth at Riverside International Raceway due to transmission issues and 24th at Ontario Motor Speedway due to engine issues.

In 1976, Kieper competed in seven Winston West races, scoring five top-tens with a best finish of second at Laguna Seca Raceway. In the combination race at Ontario, he finished 35th due to engine issues.

Kieper again ran seven Winston West races in 1977, scoring three top-tens with a best finish of seventh at Yakima Speedway. He made his final Winston Cup start in the combination race at Ontario, finishing 36th due to engine issues.

Kieper made just two Winston West starts in 1978, failing to finish at both Shasta Speedway and Western Speedway. He made his final Winston Cup attempt in the combination race at Ontario, failing to qualify.

In 1979, Kieper ran five Winston West races, scoring his first pole since 1956 at Portland and scoring three top-tens with a best finish of third at Evergreen Speedway.

Kieper again made five starts in 1980, scoring three top-tens as in the year prior with a best result of third again coming at Evergreen.

Kieper ran six races in 1981, scoring two top-tens with a best finish of sixth at Shasta.

Kieper's final season as a driver was 1982, where he made four starts, finishing in the top-ten in his final two starts with a seventh-place finish at Evergreen and an eighth-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway.

Team ownership

All but two of Kieper's career starts came in his own Kieper Racing entry. As an owner, Kieper scored a total of four wins and six poles, with the last win for the team coming in the 1988 Winston 200 with Derrike Cope and the last pole for the team coming with Jim Bown in 1995. Other drivers who competed for the team include Hershel McGriff and Greg Biffle. His son Richard continued running the team from 1997 to 2003.

Motorsports career results

References

  1. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1954 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1954 Pacific Coast Late Model Division Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  3. ↑ Delforge, Vincent (February 19, 2024). "ARCA West History: May 30, 1954, the Second Race". Kickin' the Tires. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1955 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1955 Pacific Coast Late Model Division Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1956 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1956 Pacific Coast Late Model Division Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1957 Pacific Coast Late Model Division Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1957 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1974 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1975 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1975 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1976 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1976 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1977 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1977 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1978 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1978 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1979 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1980 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1981 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – 1982 NASCAR Winston West Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Johnny Kieper – NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  24. ↑ Delforge, Vincent (August 4, 2022). "Former NASCAR West Driver/Owner John Kieper Passes Away". Kickin' the Tires. Retrieved October 28, 2026.