Former racing driver Tommy Ellis and his wife, Brenda Ellis, have seen the highs and lows of life. The NASCAR couple has lived the best and worst days together, from getting on stage to receiving the Busch Series Award to going to jail.
Nicknamed “Terrible Tommy,” the NASCAR driver was known for his attitude on the racetracks.
Such was Tommy’s confidence that the racer would tell the commentators to announce on the microphone that he would win the race tonight and smoke his competitors.
Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Tommy’s first race was in 1976 at the Delaware 500 at Dover International Speedway.
He started his NASCAR Xfinity Series career in 1982, achieving 22 wins and 108 top ten.
Ellis’ biggest victory was the 1988 Xfinity Series Championship. Between 1988 and 1990, Ellis won nine poles and seven races.
After retiring in 1995, Tommy Ellis decided to stay away from the spotlight.
In a 2005 interview, Tommy said he left NASCAR because he didn’t like what the sport had turned into–more business and less racing.
However, the 2010 case against him and his wife brought the driver back into the spotlight.
Once they served their time, Tommy decided he was better off staying away from the glitz and glam.
NASCAR Racer Tommy Ellis and His Wife Brenda Ellis Were Behind the Bars for Defrauding the IRS!
The 2010 New York Times article stated that the NASCAR driver Tommy Ellis and his wife Brenda Ellis will serve time in prison for their scheme to defraud.
The couple hadn’t reported all their proceeds from their car wash service to the Internal Revenue Service.
The Busch Series Champion was sentenced to 18 months in prison for defrauding the IRS of more than $133,000 from 2003 to 2007. Whereas his wife, Brenda Ellis, received a 12-month sentence.
In his 2005 Daily Press interview, Tommy had mentioned owning two car washes in Midlothian.
The former NASCAR racer also stated that he spends three days a week on his 50-foot sport fishing boat, which he docks in Buckroe.
Since the 2010 incident, Tommy hasn’t done any interviews, but his fans have spotted him in cars.
In May 2024, the Instagram page named Rana’s Radar shared a video of her meeting Tommy.
In the video, Tommy appears humble. When Rana introduces him as a celebrity, the legendary racer says, “Used to be.”
The interviewer appears shocked at meeting Tommy and lets him talk about his achievements in his heydays.
Unlike Tommy Ellis, Brenda Ellis Is Active On Social Media!
Brenda Ellis is active on social media and has a Facebook page where she occasionally posts her husband’s photographs.
According to the information, the couple resides in Richmond, Virginia.
In August 2020, Brenda shared a birthday post for her husband, posting present-day and racing days photos of her husband.
In one of the pictures, Brenda can be seen standing alongside Tommy as he receives his championship award.
Before meeting Tommy, Brenda was married to Terris W. Lefferts Sr, with whom she had a son named Terris Leffeters.
Brenda’s son Terris passed away in October 2020 at the age of 51.
On her Facebook page, Brenda has shared anniversary posts for her son and pictures with her grandkids, Kayla and Hunter.
In 2021, a Reddit user shared a photo of the 1988 Busch Series Championship staff and said he is the only grandson of legendary NASCAR driver Tommy Ellis.
The Reddit user wrote he found the Championship trophy chilling in his living room.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Tommy Ellis was a stunt driver for the film Days of Thunder.
- Between 1988 and 1990, Tommy won over $600,000 in purse money and an extra $100,000 bonus for winning the 1988 Busch title.
