{{Short description|American racecar driver (1935–2009)}} {{Infobox NASCAR driver |name = Kenneth "Ken" L. Spikes |image = |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date|1935|2|2}} |birth_place = Cordele, Georgia, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|2009|11|19|1935|2|2}} |death_place = Albany, Georgia, U.S. |death_cause = |height = |weight = |achievements = |awards = |Total_Cup_Races = 16 |Years_In_Cup = 3 |Best_Cup_Pos = 40th – 1964 |First_Cup_Race = 1964 Atlanta 500 (Atlanta) |Last_Cup_Race = 1970 Talladega 500 (Talladega) |First_Cup_Win = |Last_Cup_Win = |Cup_Wins = 0 |Cup_Top_Tens = 1 |Cup_Poles = 0 }} {{sources needed|date=February 2026}}
'''Kenneth L. Spikes''' (February 2, 1935 – November 16, 2009) was an American driver for the NASCAR Grand National Series who drove from 1964 to 1970. Before he was in NASCAR, Spikes served in the United States Air Force.<ref name="jayski"/> During his spare time, Spikes would devote his time to operating a company specializing in heavy equipment.<ref name="jayski"/>
==Career== Spikes officially drove in 1755 laps of professional stock car racing action; which is the equivalent of {{convert|2695.3|mi|km}}.<ref name="kenspikes">[http://www.racing-reference.info/driver/Ken_Spikes ''Ken Spikes''] career statistics at Racing Reference</ref> The primary manufacturers for this driver were Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Dodge.<ref>[http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist2.php?uniqid=10787 ''Ken Spikes'' career information] at Ultimate Racing History</ref><ref name="frcs">[http://fantasyracingcheatsheet.com/nascar/drivers/ken-spikes/1948 ''Ken Spikes''] complete information at Fantasy Racing Cheat Sheet</ref> While he enjoyed an average start of 31st place; racing skills developed on the track allowed him to improve on his unimpressive starts with an average finish of 26th place.<ref name="kenspikes"/><ref name="frcs"/> Spikes would earn a grand total of $8,235 from his entire NASCAR driving career (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|8235|1970|r=2}}}} when adjusted for inflation).<ref name="kenspikes"/><ref name="frcs"/> He would fail to qualify for one race only: the 1967 National 500 set in prestigious Charlotte Motor Speedway (Concord, North Carolina).<ref>[http://www.racing-reference.info/show_dnq?id=spikeke01&yr=0&series=W Ken Spike's only DNQ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502031415/http://racing-reference.info/show_dnq?id=spikeke01&yr=0&series=W |date=2015-05-02 }} at Racing Reference</ref>
After retiring from racing, Spikes devoted his life to religion and became a minister. As a faithful church-goer at the Listonia Christian Mission, Spikes knew that he would be attracted to the ministry and became Reverend Ken Spikes.<ref name="jayski"/> He died at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia; leaving behind his wife Miriam (née Dean) along with four daughters, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.<ref name="jayski">[http://www.jayski.com/pages/sadnews2009.htm Ken Spikes' death] at Jayski.com. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190129023547/https://www.jayski.com/pages/sadnews2009.htm Archived].</ref>
==Titles, honours and awards== ===Shorthand titles=== *February 2, 1935 – ''[Exact date unknown]'': Mr. Kenneth Spikes *''[Exact date unknown]'' – November 16, 2009: ''Reverend'' Kenneth Spikes
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Racing-Reference driver|Ken_Spikes}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spikes, Ken}} Category:1935 births Category:2009 deaths Category:People from Cordele, Georgia Category:Racing drivers from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:NASCAR drivers Category:United States Air Force airmen Category:Daytona 500 drivers Category:Coca-Cola 600 drivers Category:Southern 500 drivers Category:20th-century American Christian clergy Category:20th-century American sportsmen