# Ken Spikes

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{{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](/source/Cordele%2C_Georgia), U.S.
|death_date         = {{death date and age|2009|11|19|1935|2|2}}
|death_place        = [Albany, Georgia](/source/Albany%2C_Georgia), U.S.
|death_cause        =
|height             =
|weight             =
|achievements       = 
|awards             = 
|Total_Cup_Races    = 16
|Years_In_Cup       = 3
|Best_Cup_Pos       = 40th – [1964](/source/1964_in_NASCAR)
|First_Cup_Race     = [1964](/source/1964_in_NASCAR) [Atlanta 500](/source/1964_Atlanta_500) ([Atlanta](/source/Atlanta_International_Raceway))
|Last_Cup_Race      = [1970](/source/1970_NASCAR_Grand_National_Series) [Talladega 500](/source/Good_Sam_Club_500) ([Talladega](/source/Alabama_International_Motor_Speedway))
|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](/source/NASCAR) [Grand National Series](/source/Sprint_Cup_Series) who drove from 1964 to [1970](/source/1970_in_NASCAR). Before he was in NASCAR, Spikes served in the [United States Air Force](/source/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](/source/Chevrolet), [Pontiac](/source/Pontiac_(automobile)), and [Dodge](/source/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](/source/1967_National_500) set in prestigious [Charlotte Motor Speedway](/source/Charlotte_Motor_Speedway) ([Concord, North Carolina](/source/Concord%2C_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](/source/The_Reverend) Ken Spikes.<ref name="jayski"/> He died at [Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital](/source/Phoebe_Putney_Memorial_Hospital) in [Albany, Georgia](/source/Albany%2C_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 &ndash; ''[Exact date unknown]'': Mr. Kenneth Spikes
*''[Exact date unknown]'' &ndash; 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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ken Spikes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Spikes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Spikes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.