Bob Tullius, a pioneering figure in American road racing and a visionary team owner, passed away on March 16, 2026, at the age of 95.
From his earliest days behind the wheel, Tullius demonstrated a rare combination of skill, determination, and racecraft that placed him among the sport’s elite. In 1964, he captured the SCCA® D Production National Championship at Riverside Raceway driving a Triumph TR4. More than a decade later, in 1975, he claimed a second SCCA National Championship, taking his Jaguar to victory against formidable Corvette competition in a commanding, flag-to-flag performance.
Tullius’ success extended well beyond SCCA Road Racing. Competing in SCCA’s groundbreaking Trans Am Series, Tullius amassed an extraordinary 21 victories in just 62 starts. He secured the Drivers’ Championship in 1977 and 1978 in the series’ top category and stood on the podium 27 times, cementing his reputation as one of the era’s most formidable competitors.
Yet his greatest legacy may lie in his vision.
In 1962, Tullius founded Group 44 Inc., at a time when no blueprint existed for professional race preparation shops or customer-supported teams. With ingenuity and determination, he built an organization that would redefine motorsports professionalism. Partnering with brands such as Triumph, MG, British Leyland, Quaker State, and Goodyear, Group 44 became synonymous with excellence.
Under Tullius’ leadership, Group 44 pioneered innovative promotional strategies, bringing race cars to local dealerships, engaging fans through print, television, and radio, and creating meaningful partnerships between teams and sponsors. The results were extraordinary: hundreds of race wins and 10 SCCA National Championships.
The team’s success reached the global stage when Group 44 played a pivotal role in Jaguar’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a 27-year absence. Tullius and his team put Jaguar back in victory lane in only his second attempt.
Beyond his accomplishments on and off the track, Tullius remained deeply committed to the Sports Car Club of America™, serving a term on the Club’s Board of Directors.
For all of those accomplishments and more, Tullius was inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame in 2015.
“Bob Tullius leaves behind an amazing legacy of innovation, leadership, and competitive excellence that helped shape modern sports car racing,” said SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb. “It’s an honor to be part of the same Club that Bob called home for so many years. What an incredible life lived.”
