June 29, 2006 - Long-time NASCAR official Bill Gazaway passed away in the Atlanta area on Thursday.

Gazaway was born in 1930 and raised in Atlanta, Ga. He was a Marine from 1947 to 1951 were he was an instructor in motor maintenance. He went on to build engines for Delta Airlines and later opened a competition garage in Atlanta. Gazaway was a NASCAR team owner in 1960 with his cars making seven starts, four with Tiny Lund as his driver, 2 with Joe Caspolich and one by Gazaway himself. His lone venture into the ranks of NASCAR drivers came at Atlanta Motor Speedway on October 30, 1960. Gazaway drove his Oldsmobile a total of one lap before the rear end failed. He is credited with a 44th position start and a 45th position finish.

Gazaway came to NASCAR as a technical inspector in 1963, maintaining that job until 1967 when he was given the position of assistant technical director under William O. Taylor. Gazaway assumed the role of Competition Director in 1968 after the death of Taylor. It was a position Gazaway would hold for 10 years. During that time his title changed to National Technical Director and then Winston Cup Grand National Competition Director. The role of Director of Racing Operations & Competition Director was assigned him in 1979. He was made Vice President of Competition in 1984, a position he held until his retirement from NASCAR in 1987.

He is survived by his wife Gwen, daughter Alicia and several grandchildren.