Brian McLeod

Ivedent “Pop” Lloyd Sr., former racer and father to well-known Florida Dirt Late Model driver Ivedent Lloyd Jr., died Tuesday night at Estelle Hospice House in Ocala, Fla., following a brief illness. He was 82.

Lloyd began his racing career shortly after his United States Army discharge in 1959. Piloting sportsman cars at several Florida racetracks, he also spent some time assisting with tech officiating at Ocala Speedway. Relinquishing the driver’s seat to his son in 1981, he was most commonly known as the crew chief to two-time Southern All Star champion Ivedent Lloyd Jr.

“Basically he and I spent about the last 50 years together racing,” the younger Lloyd said. "Up until I was 18, I was sitting in the truck next to him as he drove to the track. And after I turned 18, he sat beside me as I drove to the track. We spent a lot of time together racing and many times it was just me and him.”

A graveside ceremony will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Highland Memorial Park in Ocala, Fla. Countryside Funeral Home in Anthony, Fla. is handling the arrangements. — Kelley Carlton