Burglars Strike NASCAR Veteran Dave Marcis’ Home, Steal Cherished Memorabilia
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Eight months after his wife passed, former NASCAR driver Dave Marcis faces another tragedy as thieves target his North Carolina home.
Dave Marcis is one of the most enduring figures in NASCAR history, despite never having won a championship. The Wisconsin native made his NASCAR Cup debut in the 1968 Daytona 500 at the age of 27. Over his 34-year career, Marcis made 883 Cup Series starts, second behind NASCAR’s all-time record holder Richard Petty.
Part of what made Marcis’ career remarkable was his ability to compete against NASCAR’s biggest teams with substantially greater financial and technical resources. As an independent racer, he was mechanically minded and was heavily involved in preparing and maintaining his own cars.
Marcis, now 85 years old, retired from racing on February 17, 2002, after competing in the Daytona 500. He is considered to be one of the last of the old-school independent owner-drivers.
In January 2026, the former racer lost his wife, Helen, after 60 years of marriage.
Dave Marcis’ Home Burglarized
Over the weekend of August 30-31, Marcis’ home in Arden, North Carolina, was broken into while he was visiting his home state of Wisconsin. The thieves got away with various items, including Rolex watches, knives, guns, and memorabilia, which were reportedly of both monetary and sentimental value.
According to his friend and Talladega radio host, Johnny Ponder, some of the stolen pieces should be easily identifiable because they bear engravings featuring his name and car. They hope that these personal details will make the items difficult for thieves to sell. Ponder shared a plea online, asking his community to keep an eye out for the memorabilia.
Similarly, the home of late driver Greg Biffle was burglarized in January, just days after he and his family were killed in a plane crash.
The recent break-in, which is classified as a felony, is currently under investigation. Those with any information are encouraged to contact the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department.
