Harley Race

Photo credit: tnawrestling.com

Real name: Harley Leland Race
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 245 lbs.
Date of birth: April 11, 1943
Date of death: August 1, 2019
From: Quitman, MO
Pro debut: 1960
Trained by: Buddy Austin, Ray Gordon and Gus Karras
Finishing move: The Piledriver

Biography

– Race overcame polio as a child and began his career in pro wrestling after his expulsion from high school
– Initially, Race performed several minor tasks for Gust Karras’ promotion, including chauffering the 800lb. wrestler Happy Humphrey
– Race moved to Nashville in the early 1960s, and just as he was starting to find success, suffered severe injuries in a car accident. Doctors initially believed that his leg needed to be amputated, but Karras intervened, saving Race’s leg
– Race endured months of gruelling physical therapy, eventually returning to the ring in the summer of 1962
– During this period of time, Race competed under his real name, as well as ‘Jack Long’ and ‘The Great Mortimer’, but settled on using his real name in September of 1963
– On January 31, 1965, Race & Larry Hennig defeated The Crusher & The Bruiser to win the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On February 4, Race & Hennig defeated Tiny Mills & Reggie Parks to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– Two days later, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & Ivan Kalmikoff to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On March 10, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & Dick The Bruiser to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On March 17, Race & Hennig defeated Tiny Mills & Reggie Parks to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On March 24, Race & Hennig defeated The Crusher & The Bruiser to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On April 4, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & Ivan Kalmikoff to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On April 9, Race & Hennig defeated Verne Gagne & The Crusher to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On May 11, Race & Hennig defeated Reggie Parks & Rene Goulet to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On May 21, Race & Hennig defeated Verne Gagne & Reggie Parks to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On June 5, Race & Hennig defeated The Crusher & The Great Dane to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On June 18, Race & Hennig defeated Rene Goulet & Eddie Sharkey to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On July 7, Race & Hennig defeated Verne Gagne & The Crusher to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On July 17, Race & Hennig defeated Rene Goulet & Tex McKenzie to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– Race & Hennig lost the AWA Tag Team Titles to Verne Gagne & The Crusher on July 24, but regained them on August 7
– On August 21, Race & Hennig defeated Tex McKenzie & Bob Ellis to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On September 5, Race & Hennig defeated Reggie Parks & Danny Hodge to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On September 10, Race & Hennig defeated Verne Gagne & The Crusher to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On September 29, Race & Hennig defeated Reggie Parks & The Crusher to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On October 2, Race & Hennig defeated Mad Dog Vachon & Haru Sasaki to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On October 16, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & The Crusher to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On October 26, Race & Hennig defeated Danny Hodge & The Crusher to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On November 20, Race & Hennig defeated Bob Ellis & The Crusher to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On December 2, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & Ivan Kalmikoff to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On December 7, Race & Hennig defeated Bob Ellis & The Crusher to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On December 28, Race & Hennig defeated Reggie Parks & Billy Red Cloud to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On January 5, 1966, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & Wilbur Snyder to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On January 21, Race & Hennig defeated Verne Gagne & Tim Woods to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– The next day, Race & Hennig defeated Bobby Managoff & Angelo Poffo to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On February 15, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & The Crusher to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On February 25, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & Ivan Kalmikoff to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On March 18, Race & Hennig defeated Mitsu Arakawa & Haru Sasaki to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On April 16, Race & Hennig defeated Dick The Bruiser & Pat O’Connor to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On April 22, Race & Hennig defeated Reggie Parks & Dale Lewis to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– The next day, Race & Hennig defeated Verne Gagne & Pat O’Connor to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On July 23, Race & Dale Lewis defeated Tim Woods & Luke Brown to win the AWA Midwest Tag Team Titles, but would lose them to the Kentuckians (Luke Brown & Jake Smith) six weeks later
– On January 6, 1967, Race & Larry Hennig defeated The Crusher & The Bruiser to win the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On January 10, Race & Hennig defeated Reggie Parks & Doug Gilbert to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On January 14, Race & Hennig defeated The Alaskan & The Big K to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On January 18, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & Dick The Bruiser to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On January 28, Race & Hennig defeated Doug Gilbert & Reggie Parks to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On February 4, Race & Hennig defeated Killer Kowalski & The Alaskan to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On February 12, Race & Hennig defeated Reggie Parks & Doug Gilbert to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On March 1, Race & Hennig defeated The Crusher & The Bruiser in a No-DQ Match to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On March 8, Race & Hennig defeated Tiny Mills & The Alaskan to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On March 13, Race & Hennig defeated Wilbur Snyder & Ernie Ladd to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On March 25, Race & Hennig defeated Killer Kowalski & The Alaskan to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On April 5, Race & Hennig defeated Pat O’Connor & Danny Hodge to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On April 21, Race & Hennig defeated Verne Gagne & Don Leo Jonathan to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On May 1, Race & Hennig defeated Ernie Ladd & Earl Maynard to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On May 18, Race & Hennig defeated Ricky Romero & Nick Kozak to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On June 5, Race & Hennig defeated Rene Goulet & Earl Maynard to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On June 8, Race & Hennig defeated Johnny Valentine & Johnny Powers to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On June 10, Race & Hennig defeated Wilbur Snyder & Dale Lewis to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On June 26, Race & Hennig defeated The Medics to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On July 17, Race & Hennig defeated Rene Goulet & Reggie Parks to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On July 21, Race & Hennig defeated Lou Thesz & Rene Goulet to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On August 30, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & Rene Goulet to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On September 7, Race & Hennig defeated Reggie Parks & Doug Gilbert to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On September 11, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & The Crusher to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On September 16, Race & Hennig defeated The Crusher & The Bruiser to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On September 29, Race & Hennig defeated Igor Vodik & Roc Rogowski to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On October 3, Race & Hennig defeated Rene Goulet & Ramon Torres to retain the AWA Tag Team Titles
– On April 5, 1968, Race defeated Sonny Myers to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– A week later, Race defeated Pat O’Connor to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– Beginning in 1969, Race competed far less frequently for the AWA, preferring to tour NWA territories, and also more regularly competed as a singles star
– On January 21, 1971, Race defeated Bob Geigel to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On January 24, Race defeated Pat O’Connor to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On February 28, Race defeated Ronnie Etchison to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On April 2, Race again defeated Ronnie Etchison to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On April 9, Race defeated Danny Little Bear in a Loser Leaves Town Match to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On April 23, Race defeated Rufus R Jones to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On May 16, Race defeated The Stomper to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On June 6, Race defeated Bob Geigel to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On June 18, Race defeated Dewey Robertson to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On August 14, Race defeated Rufus R Jones to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On August 20, Race defeated Dick The Bruiser to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On September 17, Race defeated Bob Ellis to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On November 5, Race defeated Pat O’Connor to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On November 19, Race defeated Jerry Brisco to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On December 12, Race defeated Ronnie Etchison to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On January 1, 1972, Race defeated Jerry Miller to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On January 16, Race defeated Danny Little Bear to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On July 22, Race defeated The Stomper to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On August 26, Race defeated Les Thornton to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On September 16, Race defeated Pak Song in the final of a tournament to win the vacant NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On September 22, Race defeated Dick The Bruiser to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On September 24, Race defeated Rufus R Jones to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On October 13, Race defeated Pat O’Connor to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On October 27, Race defeated Les Thornton to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On November 3, Race defeated The Stomper to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On November 19, Race defeated Danny Little Bear to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On December 1, Race defeated Guy Mitchell to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On December 16, Race fought Johnny Valentine to a double DQ to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On May 24, 1973, Race defeated Dory Funk Jr in Kansas City to win the NWA World Title and would rack up 35 defenses before losing the title to Jack Brisco in July
– On September 27, Race defeated Bob Brown to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On October 13, Race defeated Gene Kiniski to win the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On October 19, Race fought Dory Funk Jr to a time-limit draw to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– The next day, Race defeated Nick Kozak to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On November 17, Race defeated Billy Red Lyons to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On November 24, Race defeated Ricky Hamilton to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On December 7, Race defeated Black Angus to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– The next day, Race defeated Jose Rivera to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On December 22, Race defeated Jim Ledford to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On January 18, 1974, Race defeated Ron Fuller to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On February 15, Race fought Billy Robinson to a time-limit draw to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On February 22, Race defeated Archie Gouldie to win the Stampede North American Title
– The next day, Race defeated Billy Howard to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On March 23, Race defeated Frankie Guerrero to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On March 30, Race defeated Rick Lucha to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On April 5, Race defeated Pat O’Connor in a Texas Death Match to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– The next day, Race defeated Ken Dillinger to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On May 3, Race defeated Bob Ellis to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On September 13, Race defeated Mr Wrestling II to win the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title, but would lose it to Don Muraco a week later
– On February 21, 1975, Race defeated Dory Funk Jr to win the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On March 2, Race defeated Frank Hill to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On April 16, Race & Roger Kirby defeated Johnny Weaver & Dick Slater to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Titles
– On April 18, Race defeated Johnny Valentine to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On May 2, Race defeated Terry Funk to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On May 16, Race defeated Edouard Carpentier to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On June 11, Race & Roger Kirby defeated Pepper Gomez & Danny Little Bear to retain the NWA Florida Tag Team Titles
– On June 30, Race & Kirby defeated Rocky Johnson & Tiger Conway Jr to retain the NWA Florida Tag Team Titles
– On August 25, Race defeated Ciclon Negro to win the NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Title
– On August 30, Race defeated Ciclon Negro to retain the NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Title
– On September 9, Race defeated The Magnificent Zulu to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title
– On September 27, Race fought Jerry Oates to a time-limit draw to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On October 12, Race defeated Akio Sato to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On October 17, Race defeated Jerry Oates to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On October 28, Race defeated Mark Lewin to retain the NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Title
– On November 7, Race defeated Red Bastien to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On November 21, Race defeated Art Thomas to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On January 11, 1976, Race defeated Rick McGraw to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On January 17, Race defeated Joe Blanchard to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On February 29, Race defeated Dave Reynolds to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On March 12, Race defeated Lord Alfred Hayes to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– The next day, Race defeated Mike Pappas to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On March 20, Race defeated Kevin Clayton to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On July 8, Race defeated Bob Brown to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On February 6, 1977, Race defeated Terry Funk for his second NWA World Title and racked up 376 defenses before losing the title to Dusty Rhodes on August 21, 1979
– Race regained the NWA World Title from Rhodes just 5 days later. This time he notched 22 defenses before trading the title with Giant Baba on a tour with All Japan in October/November 1979, regaining the title from Baba on November 7, the penultimate day of the tour
– Race would make 113 defenses before again trading the title back and forth with Giant Baba in September of 1980, beginning Race’s 5th reign
– Race notched up 101 defenses in this reign, before briefly losing the belt to Tommy Rich in April 1981, regaining it four days later to begin his sixth reign
– By Race’s standards, his sixth reign was short, lasting just under two months, with 20 defenses before Dusty Rhodes captured the title for what was Rhodes’s second reign
– On April 24, 1982, Race defeated Bobo Brazil to win the vacant WWA World Title
– On June 5, Race defeated Rufus R Jones to retain the WWA World Title
– On August 1, Race defeated Jumbo Tsuruta in Tokyo to win the NWA United National Title
– On September 17, Race defeated Dick The Bruiser in a Cage Match to win the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– Two days later, Race defeated Omar Atlas to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On September 26, Race defeated Jack Hawk to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On October 3, Race defeated Charlie Miller to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On October 24, Race defeated Tom Brewer to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– Two days later, Race defeated Giant Baba to win the PWF Heavyweight Title
– On October 31, Race defeated Art Crews to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On November 2, Race fought Giant Baba to a double DQ to retain the PWF Heavyweight Title
– On May 13, 1983, Race defeated Jerry Blackwell to regain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On May 20, Race defeated Hercules Hernandez to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On June 2, Race defeated Dewey Robertson to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On June 10, Race defeated Ric Flair to begin his seventh NWA World Title reign, a then-record number. He racked up 89 defenses before dropping the title back to Flair at Starrcade 1983
– On January 6, 1984, Race defeated David Von Erich to win the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On March 30, Race defeated Wahoo McDaniel to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On June 22, Race defeated Curt Hennig to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On July 13, Race fought Wahoo McDaniel to a no-contest to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On August 11, Race defeated Jerry Blackwell by DQ to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On August 24, Race defeated King Parsons by countout to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On August 30, Race defeated The Grappler to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On October 6, Race defeated Jerry Blackwell in a Cage Match to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On October 25, Race defeated Hacksaw Higgins to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On November 14, Race defeated Higgins to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On December 28, Race fought Roger Kirby to a time-limit draw to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On January 3, 1985, Race defeated Mr Pogo by DQ to retain the NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
– On August 2, Race defeated Jerry Blackwell to win the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On August 29, Race fought Bob Brown to a double countout to retain the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
– On October 7, Race defeated Koko Ware to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title
– On October 14, Race defeated Koko Ware to retain the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title
– Having grown disillusioned with the management of the NWA amid the WWF’s national expansion, Race took the opportunity to sign with WWF in mid-1986
– Race won the 1986 King Of The Ring Tournament, defeating Pedro Morales in the final
– Race won the WWF’s Sam Mushnick Memorial Tournament in August 1986, defeating Ricky Steamboat in the final
– At WrestleMania III, Race defeated The Junkyard Dog in a ‘Loser Must Kneel’ Match
– At Survivor Series 1988, Race, Andre The Giant, Rick Rude, Mr Perfect & Dino Bravo defeated Tito Santana, Jim Duggan, Jake Roberts, Ken Patera & Scott Casey
– Race left the WWF following the 1989 Royal Rumble event
– On January 6, 1990, Race defeated Miguel Perez Jr to win the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title, but lost it to Invader #1 in his first defense
– Race debuted for WCW at the 1990 Great American Bash, defeating Tommy Rich
– On December 7, Race suffered a shoulder injury in a house show match against Michael Wallstreet and opted to retire from in-ring competition
– Race returned to WCW television at the 1991 Great American Bash, serving as the on-screen manager of Lex Luger
– Race would continue to serve as a manager for a range of WCW talents through the end of 1994
– Race was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame at Slamboree 1994
– In January 1995, Race suffered another car accident which forced him into hip replacement surgery and kept him off television
– Race made one final WCW appearance as a guest ring announcer for the Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit ‘Owen Hart Tribute Match’ on the October 4, 1999 Nitro
– Late that year, Race founded WLW, an independent promotion with an attached training academy
– Race was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2004
– In 2004, Race was announced as a member of the ‘NWA Championship Committee’ for TNA, but only made the occasional appearance for the company
– In 2006, Race was given the Mike Mazurki award at the Cauliflower Alley Banquet in Las Vegas, NV.
– Race served as the gatekeeper for the main event match at TNA Lockdown 2007
– On March 1, 2009, Race was inducted into the GERWECK.NET Hall of Fame.
– Race appeared at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 8, participating in the NWA World Title presentation
– Race was diagnosed with lung cancer in early 2019 and would pass away from the disease on August 1 of that year