Background
Tapia was born on March 16, 1925, in Mobile, Alabama, to Ada and Homer Tapia. When he was nine years old, he attended a dirt track race with his father. His father began taking him regularly to motorcycle races in the mid 1930s.
Tapia was born on March 16, 1925, in Mobile, Alabama, to Ada and Homer Tapia. When he was nine years old, he attended a dirt track race with his father. His father began taking him regularly to motorcycle races in the mid 1930s.
He competed in four National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing Grand National (now Series) races, but he is best known for racing in the #327 supermodified. He was nicknamed the "King of the Supermodifieds." At the age of 17, Tapia got married. That same year, he was involved in a street fight and the county district attorney suggested that he should leave town to avoid prosecution.
In order to resolve the matter amicably, he left Mobile to work as a civilian on a military base in Alaska.
Tapia was wounded when the Japanese attacked Dutch Harbor in June 1942. Before either parent was able to see the baby, he was stolen by Georgia Tann"s baby theft ring that worked at the hospital.
In June 1943, Tapia returned to Mobile where he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served with the Third Marine Division in Guadalcanal, the first-day invasion of Guam, and spent over 35 days on Iwo Jima.
In 1948, Tapia began racing as a way to get past battle stress which plagued him after the War.
He raced in several National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing races that season. He left the circuit because he wanted to race five nights per week instead of one night. "Tapia was right up there with the best," said Donnie Allison.
"He could have made it real good in National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing, if he had chosen.
But I think his regard for his family and the desire to race more frequently is what kept him closer to home." The event was billed as the "world"s richest supermodified race". Tapia died in 2005 at the age of 80.
The Gene Tapia Story: King of the Supermodifieds.