Edwin 'Banjo' Matthews never won a Grand National race in 51 starts as a driver, but his real fame came as a car builder: cars built by his Banjo's Performance Center in Arden, North Carolina, won 262 of 362 Winston Cup races from 1974 through 1985 – including all 30 races in 1978.
Matthews died in 1996 at 64. His nickname came from his round glasses – 'Banjo Eyes' – but his legacy is pure horsepower.
At a Glance
- Born: February 14, 1932, Akron, Ohio
- Died: October 2, 1996, Hendersonville, North Carolina
- Age: 64
- Cause of death: Heart and respiratory disease
Final Resting Place
Calvary Episcopal Church Cemetery, Fletcher, North Carolina.
Photo: from Howard Wear's collection
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.
Portrait: from Howard Wear’s collection. Grave photo: Photo: from Howard Wear's collection.