Harley Race is one of the most respected and decorated
wrestlers ever to step into the ring. As a long time friend of the Hart
Family, Race has spent a lot of time in Stampede Wrestling rings and talking
about the Hart legacy all over the world.
Race is best known as an 8-time NWA Heavyweight
Champion. As his star was fading in the NWA, he engaged in some memorable
matches with a then-rookie Ric Flair. He formed a great tag team with Larry
"The Ax: Hennig in the old AWA. Race moved on to the WWF, where he enjoyed
some success, then migrated back to Atlanta, joining WCW. He retired soon
afterwards, and served as a manager to the monstrous Big Van Vader.
Today, Harley Race is semi-retired and living in
Kansas City. He promotes wrestling cards in the area under his own promotion,
World League Wrestling, and trains new prospects.
Vital Statistics:
Real Name: Harley Race
Height:
Weight:
Hometown:
AKA: Jack Long, "Handsome" Harley Race, "Mad Dog" Harley Race, "The
King" Harley Race
Titles Held:
Stampede North American Heavyweight Champion
8 Time NWA Heavyweight Champion
4 Time AWA World Tag Team Champion
8 Time Central States Heavyweight Champion
7 Time Missouri State Heavweight Champion
3 Time Florida State Tag Team Champion
2 Time Mid-America Heavyweight Champion
NWA United States Heavyweight Champion
Georgia State Heavyweight Champion
Southern Tag Team Champion
PWI Rankings:
Best PWI Ranking: 198 (1991)
All Time PWI Ranking:
Chronology:
early 60s:
Race wrestles as Jack Long, winning the Southern Tag Team Titles in
Tennessee with John Long.
Race wrestles in Texas and develops a feud with the Funk brothers (Terry
and Dory Jr.)
1965:
January: Race and Larry "The Ax" Hennig beat Crusher and Bruiser for
the AWA Tag Team Titles
July: Race and Hennig lose the AWA Titles to Crusher and Verne Gagne.
August: Race and Hennig regain the AWA Titles from Crusher and Gagne.
1966:
May: Race and Hennig drop the AWA Titles to Crusher and Bruiser.
1968:
April: Race wins the Central States Heavyweight Title from Sonny Myers.
May: Race loses the Central States Title to Roy Etchison.
1967:
January: Race and Hennig regain the AWA Titles from Crusher and Bruiser.
November: Race teams with Chris Markoff (replacing Hennig) and loses
the AWA Titles to Pat O'Connor and Wilbur Snyder.
1971:
Spring: Race beats Bob Geigel for the Central States Heavyweight Title.
He loses the title to Geigel some time later.
June: Race regains the Central States title from Bob Geigel.
1972:
January: Race loses the Central States title to Pat O'Connor. Promoters
continue to acknowledge Race as the Central States Champion.
February: Race loses the Central States title to Danny Little Bear.
July: Race beats The Stomper for the Central States title.
September: Race beats Pak-Song for the Missouri Heavyweight Title.
November: Race loses the Central States title to Omar Atlas.
December: Race vacates the Missouri title after a double disqualification
match with Johnny Valentine.
1973:
January: Race loses to Johnny Valentine in a rematch for the Missouri
Title.
May: Race beats Dory Funk Jr. for the NWA Heavyweight Title.
July: Race loses the NWA Title to Jack Brisco.
September: Race beats "Bulldog" Bob Brown for the Central States Heavyweight
Title.
October: Race beats Gene Kiniski for the Missouri Title.
Race loses to "Bulldog" Bob Brown for the Central
States Heavyweight Title.
1974:
Race wins the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title from Archie
Gouldie. Race drops the title back to Gouldie later in the year.
May: Race loses the Missouri Title to Dory Funk Jr.
July: Race beats Bob Brown for the Central States title.
August: Race loses the Central States Title to Bob Brown.
September: Race wins the Georgia Heavyweight Title from Mr. Wrestling
II. Race vacates the title later in the month.
1975:
February: Race regains the Missouri Title from Dory Funk Jr.
April: Race and Roger Kirby win the Florida State Tag Team Titles.
Spring: Race beats Johnny Weaver in a tournament final to become the
first NWA United States Heavyweight Champion.
Race wins the Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Tennessee.
June: Race and Bob Roop win the Florida State Tag Team Titles.
Late Summer: Race and Kirby win the Florida State Tag Titles.
September: Race loses the Mid-America title to Magnificent Zulu, but
regains it later in the month.
1976:
April: Race loses the Missouri Title to Bob Backlund.
July: Race beats Bob Brown for the Central States title.
1977:
February: Race wins the NWA Heavyweight Title from Terry Funk.
August: Race drops the NWA Title to Dusty Rhodes, but regains it from
Rhodes 6 days later.
October: Race loses the NWA Title to Shohei "Giant" Baba.
November: Race regains the title from Baba.
1978:
January: In a Supercard match, Race wrestles to a draw with Superstar
Billy Graham at the Orange Bowl in Miami, FL.
1980:
August: Race loses to Dusty Rhodes in a best two out of three falls
match, one fall to none.
September: Race loses the NWA Title to Shohei Baba, but regains it
6 days later.
1981:
April: Race loses the NWA Title to "Wildfire" Tommy Rich.
May: Race regains the title from Rich.
June: Race loses the NWA Title to Dusty Rhodes.
1982:
September: Race wins the Missouri State Heavyweight Title from Dick
the Bruiser.
1983:
January: Races loses the Missouri Title to Kerry von Erich.
May: Race regains the Missouri Title from Crusher Blackwell
June: Race regains the NWA Title from Ric Flair, Race vacates the Missouri
Title due to his NWA title win.
Race wins the Central States Heavyweight Title from
Dewey Robertson, vacates it when he beats Flair for the NWA Title.
November: Race loses the NWA Title to Ric Flair in a steel cage math
at Starrcade '83.
1984:
January: Race wins the Missouri Title from David von Erich.
March: Race beats Flair for the NWA Heavyweight Title, but loses it
back to Flair 2 days later.
October: Race wins the Central States Title from Hacksaw Higgins.
November: Race loses the Missouri Title to Crusher Blackwell.
1985:
January: Race loses the Central States title to Mr. Pogo.
August: Race regains the Missouri Title from Blackwell.
1986:
February: The Missouri Title is abandoned, Race retires the title as
its last champion.
April: Race wrestles to a double countout with Rick Martel at Wrestlerock
'86
1987:
March: Race loses to the Junkyard Dog at Wrestlemania 3.
November: Race participates in the WWF Survivor Series.
1988:
March: Race participates in a battle royal at Wrestlmania 4.
November: Race participates in the Survivor Series
1989:
January: Race loses to Haku at the Royal Rumble.
1999:
Race founded World League Wrestling in Kansas City.
Web Links:
Harley Race Official Homepage
Race's
page at Kayfabememories