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Russell Thomas, the 1995 Super Late Model champion at Smoky Mountain Raceway in Whittier, N.C., and a feature winner at other tracks in North Carolina and Georgia, died Sunday at his Morganton, Ga., home. He was 55.

Ricky Thomas, who served as his brother's crew chief in a Late Model career that stretched from 1992-08, said Russell Thomas died in his sleep of natural causes.

Thomas scored his richest payday with a $3,000 victory at Toccoa (Ga.) Raceway midway through his career and also tallied feature victories at Smoky Mountain, Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown, N.C., and Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, Ga. He also competed at Chatsworth's North Georgia Speedway, Lavonia (Ga.) Speedway, Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway and Atomic Speedway near Knoxville, Tenn., among other tracks, his brother said.

His Late Model career started in the Limited division in '92 and he won the '95 Smoky Mountain title in his first full Super Late Model season. He missed parts of the 2006 and 2007 seasons after bouts first with diverticulitis and then a June 26, 2007, surgery to remove part of his colon. His career ended after a November 2008 heart attack.

Russell Lloyd Thomas owned and operated Thomas Logging and then Thomas Grading along with his father, Bob, and brothers Ricky and Roger.

Along with his father and brothers, survivors include his wife, Angie Thomas, and three sons: Tyler, Tony and Taylor. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, at Henry-Cochran Funeral Home in Blue Ridge, Ga.; the funeral is at 7 p.m. Find a complete obituary at cochranfuneralhomes.com.

Editor's note: Updates with details from obituary.