William F. Rafter (July 31, 1929 â March 2, 2026) was an American champion stock car driver from Clarence Center, New York and a pioneer of the sport.
Rafter began his racing career in 1948 as a teenager at the Civic Stadium in Buffalo, New York, and was soon hired by local car dealer John Moran to drive his highly-modified âÂÂ37 Ford coupe.
He made 35 appearances in the NASCAR Grand National Series, the first of which was in 1949, the inaugural year of the Cup division. He otherwise spent the majority of his career racing in the Late Model Sportsman and Modified divisions, competing at the renowned tracks of the northeast, including Fonda Speedway and Perry Speedway in New York and Langhorne Speedway in Pennsylvania. In 1961, he won the inaugural event at the newly opened Utica-Rome Speedway in Vernon, New York.
Rafter claimed track titles at Civic Stadium, Lancaster Speedway and Holland Speedway in New York, as well as Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, Ontario. He was inducted into the New York State Stock Car Association and the Northeast Dirt Modified Halls of Fame.
Rafter died March 2, 2026, at the age of 96.
() (<span style="font-size:85%">Bold â Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics â Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * â Most laps led.</span>)