NASCAR legend and three-time Daytona 500 winner Larry McClure dies aged 81

NASCAR legend Larry McClure has died at the age of 81.

McClure was a co-owner of Morgan-McClure Motorsports, and oversaw three Daytona 500 wins in the 1990s.

'The Family of Larry A. McClure, former co-owner of Morgan McClure Motorsports, announces with great sorrow his passing on Wednesday, June 25 at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Virginia,' his family said in a statement.

'We would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support during this most difficult time.' 

McClure operated Morgan-McClure Motorsports alongside Tim Morgan and his brother Jerry McClure.

Their NASCAR Cup Series team was operated from 1983 to 2012, with the organization notching some big wins along the way. 

Driver Sterling Marlin won two Daytona 500s with Morgan-McClure in 1994 and 1995, and released a touching post in response to his former boss' passing.

'My heart hurts finding out Larry McClure passed away,' Marlin wrote on X.

'He took a chance on me saying 'I know you'll drive the hell out of it.' He gave me a fast race car & back to back Daytona 500s. He was innovative, smart & a hell of a guy. Glad i got to see him last year. gonna miss him.' 

Overall, Morgan-McClure notched 14 total wins, with another Daytona 500 triumph coming in 1991 via  Ernie Irvan.

The team also notched 63 top-five finishes over 702 races, according to Racing on America SI.

Tributes poured in for McClure, with ESPN's Ryan McGee writing: 'Godspeed Larry McClure. I saw him at the airport not too long ago and introduced him to a friend as 'This here is the man who owned the slickest looking bullet that ever cut through Daytona.' And he said 'Hi, I'm Larry, and he's damn right.'

'Larry McClure was a racer thru & thru, but he was a even better Christian man. Rest Easy Larry,' a fan added.

More to follow