Albert Jesse Pearce Jr., 82, of Newport News, Va., an award-winning sportswriter who covered NASCAR for more than 50 years and was honored in several Halls of Fame, died Wednesday, April 9, 2025, of a heart attack.
Born Oct. 30, 1942, in Rocky Mount, N.C., Al wrote that he “dreamed of being an Atlantic Coast Line railroad locomotive engineer like his father—the best ever—before life got in the way.”
After graduating from Presbyterian College in 1965, Al taught high school the next year in Jacksonville, Fla. He then spent three years as an Army officer — including 13 months in Vietnam. In 1969, he was discharged from Fort Eustis and immediately began a 35-year career, which he described as a “much-traveled, cover-anything sportswriter,” for the Newport News Times-Herald/Daily Press.
Al began writing for AutoWeek magazine in 1973, and never stopped, most recently listed as a senior NASCAR contributor for autoweek.com.
Over the years, Al received eight Virginia Press Association writing awards, as well as the American Motorsports Media Association of Excellence Award. He authored or coauthored 13 books about NASCAR. He is in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, and the Athletic Hall of Fame of the Virginia Lower Peninsula.
Covering his 56th consecutive Daytona 500 this past February meant a great deal to Al.
When he wasn’t on the job, Al was an avid reader, and enjoyed talking about books. He loved travel, especially on two wheels. The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America gave him an outlet for this, as well as an amazing group of fellow riders, and a reason to exercise his generous side. He crossed the country and the planet getting autographs on helmets that raised money for Victory Junction. Family trips were on four wheels, and he’d reluctantly board a plane for vacations abroad. A cradle Presbyterian, he was a ruling elder at Hilton Presbyterian Church.
In 1986, Al met Francie Bobbe in Phi Beta Kappa Hall at The College of William and Mary, where she was hosting a press conference for the women’s athletic program. They married the following year. They had a daughter, Ann, who resides in Roanoke, Va.
Al was preceded in death by his parents Albert Jesse Pearce Sr. and Dorothy Simpson Pearce, and his sister Marilyn Pearce Tomek and brother-in-law Francis Lee Tomek.
In addition to his wife and daughter, Al is survived by in-laws David and Cindy Bobbe of Bryant Pond, Maine, and Peter and Dee Bobbe of Burnsville, N.C.; nieces Caroline Tomek James (Brian) of St. Johns, Fla.; Victoria Bobbe Weymouth (Tim) of North Anson, Maine; Sarah Bobbe (August) of Carrboro, N.C.; nephews Erik Bobbe (Julie) of Bath, Maine; Mark Bobbe (Katie) of Golden, Colo.; and Chris Bobbe (Richard) of San Francisco, Calif.; and six great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family will welcome friends on Tuesday, June 24, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, Va. 23601. A funeral will be held on Wednesday, June 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Hilton Presbyterian Church, 34 Main St., Newport News, Va. 23601.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the C.J. Woollum Victory Fund, Christopher Newport University, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News, Va. 23606; Victory Junction, 4500 Adam’s Way, Randleman, N.C. 27317; Hilton Presbyterian Church; The Blue Stocking, Presbyterian College, 503 S. Broad Street, Clinton, S.C. 29235; or a charity of your choice.
