Helmet open, and puffing on a cigarette, while driving around a racetrack! Dick Trickle was truly a one-of-a-kind icon, the likes of which the NASCAR world has rarely seen. Considered the winningest short-track driver in history, Trickle achieved it all in his illustrious career with a nonchalant demeanor, making the most difficult passes look effortless. At a time when NASCAR drivers didn’t have sequential gearboxes, independent rear suspension, or aluminum wheels, Dick Trickle stood out, not just in age, but also in attitude.

With NASCAR currently in the middle of an Olympic break, fans couldn’t help but draw parallels between Dick Trickle and Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikeç. Dikeç’s relaxed demeanor, and casual attitude during the shooting event, combined with a silver medal at the Paris Olympics without using optical gadgets, sparked a conversation on Reddit’s NASCAR community about the similarities between the two.

What made Dick Trickle unique?

Back in the day, drivers would carry a briefcase to every race, comprising charts and details about every racetrack they had been to, the contents of which would help them devise race strategy. Similarly, Dick Trickle had a briefcase too; the only difference was that it contained his ball caps, sunglasses, a single race schedule, and a carton of cigarettes. Such was his affinity for Marlboro’s that he drilled a hole through his racing helmet so that he could smoke while driving. Crazy, right?

A quick look at his career would indicate that Trickle didn’t achieve much in his Cup Series career. However, he only chose to step into NASCAR at the age of 48, by which time he had already won seven ARTGO Championships in nine years. He also won back-to-back ASA AC-Delco Challenge championships in 1984 and 1985. Despite his advancing age, Dick Trickle won the NASCAR Rookie of the Year award in the 1989 Winston Cup Series, a testament that talent prevails, irrespective of age or equipment.

Even though Trickle always had the talent to make a career in NASCAR, his choice to remain in the short tracks until 1989 was purely motivated by his love for racing. Trickle won a staggering 1200 times in the short tracks of Wisconsin, which earned him a reputation for being tougher than Dale Earnhardt and a better driver than Richard Petty. In millennial terms, Dick Trickle had a ‘vibe’, the likes of which are rarely seen in the NASCAR world.

Dick Trickle’s casual demeanor resonated with fans, as the racer looked like just another person making his way into the world by doing what he does. The fact that Trickle’s persona didn’t change, even when he was in the public eye, gave him a sense of authenticity that fans came to love. Similarly, Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikeç, who was wearing a casual T-shirt and pants at the Paris Olympics and won the silver medal without using optical gadgets, gave some of the older NASCAR fans a feeling of familiarity.

Yusuf Dikeç’s persona leads to comparisons with a NASCAR legend

In a conversation that began on Reddit, fans were shown a picture of Yusuf Dikeç at the Paris Olympics and asked what would be the NASCAR version of this. Giving further context, the topic creator elaborated by saying, “Just a person that looks normal, but could get an amazing position if they tried.”

This prompted NASCAR fans to share their views, with many drawing parallels between Yusuf Dikeç and Dick Trickle. One fan wrote, “Dick Trickle smoking a cigarette while under caution.” Another fan echoed a nearly identical sentiment, recalling the famous video of Dick Trickle puffing on his Marlboro in the middle of the NASCAR race. The fan wrote, “Dick Trickle cigarette in-car video clip, for sure.”

Watching Yusuf Dikeç casually aim his gun at the target, wearing a casual T-shirt and pants with a hand in his pocket, one NASCAR fan couldn’t think of another name. The fan wrote, “If it ain’t Dick Trickle idk.” On a similar note, the question posed by the Reddit user that sparked the conversation prompted one fan to say, “Yeah, this is an easy pick”, indicating that there is no other driver except for Dick Trickle, who has a similar demeanor.

However, some fans found it a much tougher pick, which prompted them to name two drivers as the NASCAR version of Yusuf Dikeç. One fan wrote, “Dave Marcus or Dick Trickle” as the possible options. While Dick Trickle may have passed away on May 16, 2013, the fact that NASCAR fans continue to remember him is a testament to his lasting legacy as a racing driver. Trickle will always be a figurehead of the untamed motorsports era, where drivers didn’t have to fit a certain ‘look’ to achieve on-track success.