Rodney Cundiff, who was a champion on and off the track, passed away last week.
Rodney “Six Pack” Cundiff, a racing fan favorite who carried the torch for Ford lovers many years in southwestern Virginia, has finished the race. He is being remembered for his unique personality on and off the track.
Cundiff of Boones Mill passed away last week at the age of 55. He left behind a wife, four sons, two daughters and a host of adoring fans and competitors from his time racing Late Models at Franklin County and Pulaski County speedways.
“When he won, it looked like the entire town of Boones Mill was in the victory lane photo,” recalled FCS owner Donald “Whitey” Taylor. “He was always one of our biggest drawing cards. He was such a good guy, even all of the Chevy people pulled for him to win.”
Cundiff made a living as the owner/operator of a local trucking company, but he was perhaps best known in the region for driving Fords in Late Models races at FCS and other tracks.
“He was a Ford man through and through,” said Orvil Reedy, who raced for years with Cundiff at FCS. “You have to give him credit for that. He was loyal. I always had a good relationship with him, but he was a tough competitor.”
“It was one Ford guy (Cundiff) versus 15 to 20 Chevrolets most nights,” said Taylor. “I think some of the fans pulled for him because they loved Fords. But it was mostly because he was a people person and had such a big personality.”
Taylor added, “All those fans and competitors he met, Rodney could remember their names. He made each one of them feel special. He was remarkable.”
Fellow driver Kelly Kingery called Cundiff “a gentle giant.”
“I’ll never forget the first time I raced him at Motor Mile,” said Kingery. “We used the front bumper to knock each other out of the lead four times that night. He would look at me under caution and twirl his finger to let me know payback was coming. I got the better of him that night and won the race.”
“I had to walk right past Rodney’s car hauler to get out of the pits. He yelled out to me to ‘come over here Kingery.’ I thought he was mad and going to kill me. He tossed me a beer and said ‘now that’s how you drive, son.’ We were good after that.”
How did Cundiff get the moniker of “Six Pack?”
Taylor said it was most likely a family nickname. “I think Rodney may have consumed a few beverages when he was younger,” said Taylor, pausing to grin. “I know that’s what everybody always called him.”
Kingery said he remembers Cundiff “always had a cooler in the pits for after the races. He kept a little something in there he called Purple Passion. He let me try it one night.”
“It’s hard to believe he is gone,” said Kingery. “He was only five years older than me. He just started driving at such a young age. He will surely be missed by the entire racing community.”
–Franklin County Speedway
