Neil Castles Cause of Death Tragic: Elvis Presley’s ‘Speedway’ Stuntman Dead at 88
Neil Castles, a former NASCAR driver-turned-stuntman, died. He was 88 years old.
Castles, who famously appeared in Elvis Presley's "Speedway," reportedly passed away on August 4. RacinToday's Deb Williams first confirmed the news on Twitter.
"Sadly, I have been notified that former #NASCAR driver Neil "Soapy" Castles passed away earlier today. When not racing Castles worked as a stunt driver in many movies, including Elvis Presley's 'Speedway,'" the announcement revealed.
It did not disclose Neil Castles' cause of death, but some media outlets that the stuntman passed away due to natural causes.
Following the news, fans who witnessed his racing and acting career paid tribute to him and recalled the contributions he made.
One said, "R.I.P Neil Castles, one of the best independent drivers in NASCAR history. Very sad day."
Gathering interviews with legends in our sport can feel like trying to pull fireworks out of the sky. You can only choose one at a time, and often there's only a narrow window. Sometimes the one you chose not to meet you never get another chance.
— Brock Beard (@LASTCARonBROCK) August 4, 2022
Rest in peace, Neil Castles.
Neil Castles' Legacy Revisited
Castles first took the spotlight when he scored the nickname "Soapy" following his first-ever experience in racing through a soapbox derby. In 1951, he officially started his career at the age of 17 by helping prepare Buddy Shuman's car for that year's Southern 500.
The NASCAR driver then made his debut as a Cup driver by completing 51 laps at Columbia Speedway in June 1957. At that time, he dropped out due to engine failure.
During his time with Cup, he made 498 starts from 1957 to 1976. Although he never won a single race, Castles set his own record of 51 top fives and 178 top 10s.
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Still, his greatest career milestone happened in 1972 when he won the Grand National East Series championship.
Outside his racing career, Castles made it to Hollywood by appearing in several movies in the 1960s and 1970s. Among his credits include "Speedway," "Greased Lightning," "Six Pack," "The Night of the Cat," and "Challenge.
Peter Golenbock also made him the subject of a short story in his book, "American Zoom."
"The starter kept doing this and I was getting real mad, so I just picked up my gun and when I come by the stand the next time I took aim and shot that ... flag out of his hand," he said about the story.
His death came after Buddy Arrington's death. The driver also died this month at the age of 84.
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