Above: Bill and Gail Davis, with their dog Maddie, in a recent photo by Andrea Bruner for White River Now
Bill Davis, a prominent Arkansas businessman who built a successful trucking company, owned a NASCAR racing team that won the 2002 Daytona 500, and founded Chimney Rock Cattle Company, has died.
Davis, who had been battling illness, passed away recently according to an announcement on the Chimney Rock Cattle Company Facebook page on Sunday.
He is survived by his wife Gail, a Batesville native, whom he met while working at Peterbilt in Little Rock when she was seeking customers for her bottled water business.
Born in Fayetteville, Davis moved to Little Rock as a child when his father, a truck salesman, relocated for work. After finishing school, Davis joined his father in the truck sales business at Peterbilt, where he became a successful salesman before deciding to start his own trucking operation.
Davis founded Bill Davis Trucking in Batesville, building it into a company that currently operates 40 trucks with 120 employees.
In 1987, Davis entered NASCAR racing, initially helping with pit crew duties for driver Mark Martin. What began as a small operation grew into Bill Davis Racing, which employed 350 people and fielded six teams at its peak. The team’s greatest achievement came in 2002 when driver Ward Burton won the Daytona 500. Notable drivers who raced for the team included Jeff Gordon, who started his career with Davis in the Busch Series.
After Davis retired from NASCAR racing in the late 2000s, he and Gail then established Chimney Rock Cattle Company in Concord, which became known for its quality livestock auctions held twice yearly.
He recently sold Bill Davis Trucking to Joey Bray, a 21-year company employee, ensuring the business would continue operating under the same name and location while preserving jobs for longtime employees.
The couple had no children but considered their employees extended family. Davis had seven nieces and nephews.
For more about Bill Davis and his career, read this recent profile by Andrea Bruner for White River Now by clicking here.
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