The motorsports world is in shock. A legend whose wheels spun across the sands of Baja and the ovals of NASCAR has passed away. Walker Evans, 86, died on August 2, 2025. For many, he was more than a driver. He was a symbol of grit, horsepower, and vision. Evans was never easy to pin down. In off-road circles, he was “The Legend.” In NASCAR, he was one of the founding names behind the Truck Series. In his own words, the racer once quipped, “If they’d just put a jump on the backstretch, I believe I’d be fine.”
Evans’ journey began in 1969. Driving for actor James Garner’s team, he finished third overall at the first Baja 500. It was only the start. He went on to win over 140 races and 21 championships in off-road events. That included five Baja 1000 wins, as well as dominant runs in the Mint 400, Parker 400, and Baja 500.
A trailblazer who bridged off-road and NASCAR
In 1975, Evans joined forces with Parnelli Jones. Together, they tore through Class 8 racing. Evans won 11 of 15 races that year in a Chevrolet Blazer. The two remained lifelong friends. During the 1990s, as factory support for off-road racing dropped, Evans helped launch the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Between 1995 and 2000, Evans operated Walker Evans Racing out of Riverside, California. Fielding Dodge trucks with numbers like #20 and #8, he competed in the inaugural Craftsman Truck Series season. His team gave early opportunities to future NASCAR standouts like Brendan Gaughan. Other drivers like Joe Ruttman and Butch Miller also suited up under the Evans banner.
By the early 2000s, the team exited NASCAR, unable to match bigger budgets. But its impact was lasting. Gaughan went on to become a Truck Series star. His contributions were foundational. His trucks were loud, proud, and always in the hunt, even without deep pockets.
RIP
Walker Evans pic.twitter.com/RUKebVmy9h
— ScottBaker (@bakerracingpix) August 3, 2025
Even after stepping out of the cockpit, Evans stayed active. His company, Walker Evans Racing, became a top producer of off-road shocks and wheels. He was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Now, as the racing world collectively raises a visor in respect, Walker Evans’ passing reminds us that motorsport’s greatest pioneers often work behind the curtain, building, teaching, and pushing boundaries. His story was not one of the spotlight alone, but of substance. And the trail he blazed still stretches far into the horizon.
This is a developing story.
The post “RIP”: NASCAR World in Mourning as Team Owner & Legendary Driver Passes Away Aged 86 appeared first on EssentiallySports.