RICHMOND, Va. -- Lennie Pond, who raced in NASCAR's premier series for 17 years, has died. He was 75.
The J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home in Chester, Virginia, said Pond died Wednesday but did not share a cause of death.
In a statement released Thursday, NASCAR said Pond was "a true racer and for decades a fixture at Virginia short tracks, where he was a five-time late model champion."
"Throughout his career, Lennie boasted accolades including the 1973 premier series rookie of the year title and a Talladega win, but it was his passion for speed, competition and racing that made him a favorite among fans and fellow competitors alike," the statement read.
A native of Ettrick, Virginia, Pond was a regular competitor at Virginia short tracks. He won five Late Model championships. He ran one race in NASCAR's top series in 1969 and 1970, then joined the sport full-time in 1973. He was named the rookie of the year that season, beating Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip.
Pond ran 234 career races at the Cup level and earned his only victory in the 1978 Talladega 500. He finished in the top five 39 times.
He drove his final Cup-level race in 1989.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.