NASCAR legend Gary Myers saw his family make racing history months before his death

NASCAR racing legend Gary Myers got to see his family's racing legacy reach a fourth generation just months before his death at the age of 76.

Myers, who had been in declining health, died Thursday, his family announced.

But back in May, he was at Bowman Gray Stadium when his 17-year-old grandson Slate Myers did something no one from the family had managed before at such a young age.

Slate won a Modified race at the famous North Carolina track, becoming its youngest-ever Modified winner at 17 years, eight months and 20 days.

More importantly for the Myers family, the victory made Slate the fourth generation of the family to win at Bowman Gray.

Gary was there to see it.

“I was carrying the checkered flag, and on the back stretch, I looked up, and I saw Phillip Smith and my grandpa, Gary Myers, and I got a little choked up,” Slate said after the race.

The teenager later dedicated the victory to his grandfather, saying Gary had “a lot going on” at the time.

Racing has been part of the Myers family for more than 70 years.

Gary grew up watching his father Billy and uncle Bobby race at Bowman Gray in the 1950s. He later got behind the wheel himself, winning 38 races at the track and the 1996 SMART Modified Tour championship. He also made 46 NASCAR Cup Series starts between 1974 and 1978.

His sons Burt and Jason then carried the family name forward.

And this year it was Slate's turn.

His first victory even put the Myers family in rare company. According to Bowman Gray, only NASCAR's famous Petty family has also produced four generations of winners in NASCAR-sanctioned competition.

Slate didn't stop after making history either. He went on to win three races in eight starts during one stretch this summer.