Mooresville, NC -- Ralph Moody, a partner in Holman-Moody Racing, died Wednesday after a long illness at the age of 86.

Between 1958 and 1972, cars owned by Moody and John Holman won 93 races in the series that was the precursor to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. In addition, he won five races as a driver in the 1956 and 1957 seasons.

"His place in life was making a car go fast around a race track," said Lee Holman, son of John Holman and president of Holman-Moody. "If you were a racer, you and Ralph Moody could get along."

Hall of Fame driver David Pearson won 30 of his 105 Cup victories in a Holman- Moody Ford.

Moody was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame in 1990 and into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994.