Auto Racing is unique among major league sports because so many of its heroes are still alive, allowing the fan direct access to a rich and colorful history.
Emanuel Zervakis, nicknamed “The Golden Greek,” was already a legend in his native Richmond, VA before he graduated to NASCAR’s senior division, driving hot rods on local dirt tracks.
He began racing on NASCAR’s senior circuit in 1956; it was not an auspicious debut. At the Daytona Beach and Road Course, he crashed on the first lap and finished in 76th position.
He fared a little better in the remainder of his races that season, coming home 14th out of 31 starters at Occoneechee Speedway in Hillsboro, NC and 13th on the paved one-mile Raleigh Speedway. Campaigning his own equipment, however, proved a costly proposition and he returned to Richmond and made only handful of Grand National races each in 1957 and '58.
In 1959 he won the Modified championship at Richmond’s Southside Speedway and it was time to attempt to move back onto the big circuit.
Racing for Monroe Shook in 1960 and 1961, Zervakis found his greatest success. They scored a pole in 1960 at Wilson Speedway and crossed the finish line first at the end of 100 dusty miles, but were forced to hand the trophy to Joe Weatherly when NASCAR discovered an oversized gas tank on their Chevrolet.
In only 14 starts of the 44 races run, Zervakis finished 8th in the point’s standings.
1961 was the year that gave Zervakis his fondest memories. During his career as a driver, he started 83 senior division races, won two, and scored 21 top 5s, 40 top 10s and two poles. Both victories, 19 top-fives, 28 top-10s and one pole came in 1961.
Zervakis’ first victory came at Greenville, SC after narrowly avoiding a spinning Rex White.
David Pearson was pestering White for the lead on lap 176 when the two ran over a hole in the dirt surface and looped their cars. Third place Zervakis meandered through the crash sight and never looked back, leading the final 25 laps. The only other car on the lead lap at the end of the day was Richard Petty. White recovered from his spin to finish third, one lap off the pace.
Zervakis’ closest competition for his second career victory was also Rex White. The event was a 500-lap race at the Norwood (MA) Arena on a ¼-mile asphalt course. Eighteen cars started the race on a track no bigger than a city block, and at the day’s end more than half the field was still running.
The Golden Greek dominated this event, leading twice for more than 350 circuits including the final 237. He was ¼ lap ahead of White when the checkers flew. This battle kept the fans in their seat—the next closest competitor was Ned Jarrett, nine laps off the pace.
He was unable to replicate that season, and he left the big leagues for good in 1963.
He attempted life as a car owner briefly for one season in 1974 and then again in 1981 – 1984 without much success. His best finish as an owner came in 1982 at Martinsville, VA with Butch Lindley at the wheel. They came home second to Harry Gant.
His greatest contribution as an owner came in fielding cars for little known drivers who would eventually find fame. Dale Jarrett made his first ever start in one of Zervakis’ machines. Mark Martin, Morgan Shepherd, Sam Ard and a fellow Modified racer named Geoff Bodine all took turns behind his wheel.
Cup Career | Track | Avg. Fin | Avg. Start | Attempts |
| Norwood Arena | 1.00 | 3.00 | 1 |
| Greenville - Pickens Speedway | 2.00 | 3.00 | 2 |
| Asheville - Weaverville Speedway | 4.33 | 9.00 | 3 |
| Columbia Speedway | 4.50 | 4.00 | 2 |
| Starkey Speedway | 5.00 | 18.00 | 1 |
| Rambi Raceway | 5.00 | 13.00 | 1 |
| Nashville International Raceway | 5.00 | 8.00 | 1 |
| North Wilkesboro Speedway | 6.00 | 13.50 | 2 |
| Bowman Gray Stadium | 7.00 | 6.33 | 3 |
| Southside Speedway | 10.67 | 6.00 | 3 |
| Hickory Speedway | 11.00 | 7.00 | 2 |
| Occoneechee Speedway | 11.67 | 9.00 | 3 |
| Martinsville Speedway | 12.00 | 10.86 | 7 |
| South Boston Speedway | 12.50 | 14.00 | 2 |
| Bristol Motor Speedway | 14.00 | 9.33 | 3 |
| Lincoln Speedway (PA) | 14.00 | 11.00 | 1 |
| Lowes Motor Speedway | 14.25 | 17.63 | 8 |
| Daytona International Speedway | 14.40 | 17.20 | 5 |
| Atlanta Motor Speedway | 15.71 | 16.57 | 7 |
| Hartsville Speedway | 16.00 | 1.00 | 1 |
| Wilson Speedway | 18.33 | 13.67 | 3 |
| Richmond International Raceway | 19.17 | 9.67 | 6 |
| Darlington Raceway | 19.78 | 24.22 | 9 |
| Old Dominion Speedway | 22.00 | 7.00 | 1 |
| Trenton Speedway | 24.00 | 4.00 | 1 |
| Langhorne Speedway | 26.00 | 15.00 | 1 |
| Raleigh Speedway | 30.67 | 20.00 | 3 |
| Daytona Beach and Road Course | 76.00 |
| 1 |
