Former NASCAR Driver Hershel McGriff Had His Wife Sherrie McGriff Cheering For Him As He Was Inducted Into The Hall of Fame

January 15, 2026

This article was last updated by Sriyukta Pradhananga on January 15, 2026

During the NASCAR Hall of Fame exhibition, former NASCAR racer Hershel McGriff was present with his wife, Sherrie. In his speech, McGriff gave a special shoutout to Sherrie and also remarked that she is actually younger than most of his kids.

McGriff, 98, began racing in 1945, right after the World War II ended.

Hershel was the first one from his family to dip his toe in the racing world.

His first NASCAR race was the 1950 Southern 500, in the NASCAR Cup Series’ sophomore season, at age 22.

McGriff started 85 races in parts of 28 NASCAR Cup Series seasons, capturing four wins-all in 1954 when he finished sixth in the championship points.

Former NASCAR Driver Hershel McGriff Pictured In Front of Garage 56 Car During An Event In June 2023

Hershel was best known for his time in the ARCA Menards Series West. He won the series title in 1986, part of a string of ten consecutive seasons with finishes in the top 10 of championship points.

McGriff’s last race was in 2018 at Tucson Motor Speedway, at age 90. But he wasn’t the only McGriff on the track.

The legendary NASCAR racer drove alongside his son, Hershel McGriff Jr., and his granddaughter, Mariah McGriff.

Hershel McGriff’s Wife, Sherrie McGriff Is His Second Wife

In his 2026 , Hershel said he and his wife, Sherrie McGriff, have been married for 25 years.

As the camera panned to Sherrie, McGriff showered his wife with compliments.

The former NASCAR driver said Sherrie is an architect, a carpenter who can fix anything around the house, and a great cook.

He joked that Sherrie is younger than most of his kids and that they had given her the nickname Wicked Stepmom.

Hershel’s joke had everyone laughing out loud in the exhibition and looking at Sherrie’s expression it didn’t seem she minded what her husband said.

Putting all jokes aside, Hershel said he was a lucky guy to have found Sherrie and he would love her forever.

Hershel and Sherrie when Hershel received the news of his Hall of Fame induction.

The former NASCAR driver was on a charity motorcycle ride near Monument Valley, Utah, when he received the news.

He was about halfway back in the pack of 125 motorcyclists, riding Richard Petty’s bumper, when he felt his phone vibrate.

Hershel pulled into a hotel parking lot and read the message from Hall of Famer Mark Martin: You’re in.

The news surprised Hershel who was overcome by emotion. He received another surprise as Sherrie made her way to him.

The wife of the NASCAR driver who heard the news about a half-hour before McGriff hopped a single-engine plane in Phoenix, flew to Colorado, and drove two hours to the hotel to be with him.

Hershel McGriff Raced On The Same Track As His Granddaughter At Age 90

In 2018, Hershel McGriff became the oldest racer to compete in a NASCAR-sanction event, competing in the K&N Pro Series West event.

Not only did he race, McGriff also played the national anthem on his trombone.

McGriff finished 18th in the first race driving for Bill McAnally Racing.

The Hall of Fame driver’s son Hershel McGriff Jr., who also served as his crew chief, competed in a separate race on the same track.

And as if two generations of McGriffs weren’t enough, Hershel’s granddaughter, Mariah, also competed in a different race on the same track.

Mariah McGriff, one of Hershel’s granddaughters is a in the Tucson Speedway.

In an interview, Mariah said she had multiple relatives involved in racing, including her grandfather, Hershel, her uncles, her parents, and also her aunts.

Alongside being a racer, Mariah is also a nurse.

She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a nursing degree and later earned her MBA from Western Governors University.

Mariah has been working with the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System for the past seven years.

She was promoted to Implant Coordinator in 2026, having joined the Health Care System as a student nurse technician in 2017.

In Case You Didn’t Know

Hershel McGriff has five children, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Hershel had five kids from his first wife, who remains unknown.
Hershel McGriff’s daughter, Debbie Bown, tied the knot with NASCAR driver Chuck Bown at age 18.

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Sriyukta Pradhananga is a versatile writer with a keen interest in exploring the multifaceted dimensions of sports. Her articles offer readers a dynamic blend of insightful analysis, engaging storytelling, and thought-provoking commentary that sheds light on the diverse experiences within the athletic realm.

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