77-YO NASCAR Veteran Drops Surprising 3-Word Verdict on Career-Defining Victory Over F1 Legend

The heart-pounding anticipation of victory wasn’t just a moment for Lake Speed, it was a way of life. In the summer of 1978, amid personal turmoil that would have derailed most athletes, Speed was about to etch his name into motorsport history. With a marriage crumbling and doubt creeping in, he stood at a crossroads that would define not just a race, but an entire racing legacy.

Personal challenges often become the crucible that forges champions, and for Lake Speed, the 1978 World Karting Championship was that defining moment. When his first wife left him, most in his place would have retreated, but Speed’s older brother pushed him to compete, recognizing a talent that transcended personal struggles.

A historic triumph over personal struggles and a future icon

The 1978 Karting World Championship was a moment of personal and professional transformation. Competing in Le Mans, France, Speed defeated top drivers like Austrian Toni Zoersel and Swedish competitor Lars Forsmann. However, one competitor stood apart during Speed’s triumph, one that no one knew would achieve such great heights.

Amongst a field of international competitors stood a young Ayrton Senna, who would later become a Formula One legend and three-time champion. Dale Earnhardt Jr. noted, “You didn’t know it at the time, but one of those drivers in the field was Ayrton Senna.” Speed’s response was quintessentially pragmatic: “If he wasn’t one of the Italians, I wasn’t concerned,” revealing a confidence that defined his racing career and the stronghold Italian drivers had on open-wheel racing. However, it was the build-up to this triumph that serves as a reminder of the power of family.

“The year in ’78 was a crucial year for my life,” Speed candidly recalled. “My first wife decided she didn’t want to be married anymore. Dropped that on me probably June or something like that, and the World Championships are in September.” What could have been a devastating personal setback became the backdrop for an extraordinary triumph.

“I’d call the factory guys and tell them I wasn’t coming, tell them about what had happened and everything,” he explained. But a pivotal conversation with his older brother changed everything. “I was close to not going,” Speed recalled in a candid conversation with Dale Earnhardt Jr. The man was shattered. He later shared with emotionality in his tone, “My oldest brother, that’s 16-years-older that was all business too. He calls me up, said, ‘I was at the World Championships watching you last year. You’ve got to go back because you’re so close.'” Speed finished 6th at the championships in 1977, behind a slew of Italian drivers like Felice Rovellli (champion), Corrado Fabi 4th, and Andrea de Cesaris in fifth. No wonder Speed only cared about the Italians.

The 1978 championship wasn’t just a race—it was a statement. “I won the first final, won the second final, it was over. I was the World Champion,” Speed said with a grin. Speed won both finals decisively, becoming the first American to claim the World Karting Championship. This wasn’t just a victory, it was a watershed moment that would stand unmatched until Logan Sargeant’s win in 2015, 37 years later. At a time when European drivers dominated international karting, Speed’s triumph was nothing short of revolutionary.

Speed’s victory wasn’t a fluke but a testament to years of dedication. Before transitioning to NASCAR, where he would become a respected driver with 402 Cup Series starts and one memorable win at the 1988 TranSouth 500, he was already a six-time United States Karting champion. His win over Senna was a preview of the tenacity that would define his entire racing career.

A racing legacy continues his life beyond the checkered flag

At 77, Lake Speed refuses to let age slow him down. He’s come full circle, returning to his first love—karting—in 2001 and becoming one of the country’s most prolific vintage racers. “I haven’t been able to find that [retirement] in the Bible anywhere. I enjoy what I do, I like people and helping people, the interaction and all that is perfect for me. I just don’t see stopping,” Speed said during a 2020 interview with NBC Sports. By day, he works as a commercial real estate broker, but racing remains his true passion.

In the world of vintage karting, Speed is a celebrated figure. “It’s like going to a high school reunion, but where everybody shows up with a go-kart,” he added with characteristic humor. While he may be mid-pack in modern racing against drivers in their 20s, in vintage karting, he’s still “bad to the bone.” In 2007, he even won the national championship in karting road racing.

Living in the same Kannapolis, North Carolina compound he purchased in 1985, Speed has transformed his original race shop. Today, it houses his real estate office and is home to the karts that have replaced his former NASCAR vehicles. His connection to racing remains strong—he continues to receive fan mail, autograph requests, and model cars weekly. “I can’t tell you how shocked I am, this far out, that I still get multiple cards, letters, model cars every week,” Speed reflected. For him, it’s more than just racing—it’s an opportunity to connect with fans and share his faith, which he credits with making a “giant change” in his life since 1983.

Lake Speed’s enduring spirit embodies the true essence of a racer—not defined by retirement, but by an unquenchable passion for the sport that has been his lifelong companion.