Will Cagle

Will Cagle of Lutz, FL went to be with his lord on February 5th, 2025. Born in Sylva, NC on March 24th, 1938 to James Sydney Cagle and Edna May Lawrence. Will Married the love is his life Barbara on May 9th, 1958. Barbara was always with him in racing and life during their 67 years of marriage. Will is survived by his wife Barbara, son Bill Cagle, daughters Vickie Cutting and Cindy Henderson (Daniel). He was a proud grandfather to three grandsons Jerry Cutting (Tracey), Chad Cutting (Maddie) and Richey Cutting (Lauren) and three great-grandchildren Easton, Jacquelyn and Callan. His faith and love for his family was undeniable. His family knew it, felt it, and were made better because of it.

Will was an accomplished professional race car driver accumulating over 800 plus wins in his storied career from the 1950’s to the 1980’s and has been inducted into eight racing Hall of Fames in the Northeast and Florida. Will is one of the greatest race car drivers that invaded the northern dirt and paved tracks of the 1960’s into the 1980’s. Often referred to during his career as the “Tampa Terror”, “Sneakers” or “Wiley Will”, he amassed a following for being an innovator and skilled racer. He would often start in the back of the pack and methodically make his way to the front for the win. He was also famous for taking the lead with a last lap pass, often referred to as getting Cagleized by other drivers.

He treated his racing as a business, as what he earned, his family lived on. Will knew to be successful, he had to eat and sleep racing. In his way of thinking, there was no other way. It was the racing life. Driving a race car gave him a great life with Barbara and their children, and his determination made him a winner not only on the track but in life.

Will won a multitude of track championships and big races on both dirt & pavement, including Eastern States and Langhorne. Will raced at over 130 tracks in the USA and Canada during his career. He has not only won in Modifieds but also with Supermodifieds, Late Models, Sportsmans, Sprints, Midgets and Champ USAC cars. He was named driver of the decade in 1970 and was recognized as one of the Area Auto Racing News Top 10 drivers of the 20th Century.

He retired from the drivers seat in 1986 for a role as General Manager at Orange County Fair Speedway, he was in that position for 11 years. Other track management roles included NY‘s Can-Am and Thunder Alley; and Florida’s East Bay Speedway.

But Will Cagle never completely retired from driving a race car. He came back in 2007 to compete in Legend Cars…at the Summer Shootout on the inner quarter-mile oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Pennsylvania’s Big Diamond, Grandview and Lincoln Speedway. In July 2010, at the age of 72, he raced in the Legend Cars Million at Charlotte Motor Speedway, there he drove in the “Masters” division and finished third in the feature in a field of 30 starters.

And, at age 77 in 2016, he drove a TQ Midget during the Indoor Race at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA. But more than being back at the wheel of a race car that weekend, Will Cagle was in his element with the fans, many representing multiple generations who had watched him compete over the decades.

He was a graduate of Hillsborough High School, in Tampa. He served in the National Guard of Florida with his specialty being Cannoneer Marksman (sharpshooter).

Will Cagle was one of a kind with a life well lived. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten along with his signature #24 race cars.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Blount & Curry Funeral Home-Carrollwood, located at 3207 W Bearss Ave, Tampa, FL 33618.

A funeral service will take place at 11 am on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Messiah Lutheran Church Tampa, located at 14920 Hutchison Rd, Tampa, FL 33625.

A cemetery service will occur Wednesday, February 19, 202,5 at 2pm at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, 4202 E Lake Ave, Tampa, FL 33610.