Dick Trickle, the legendary NASCAR race car driver, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday. The body of Dick Trickle, 71, was found near his pick-up truck in a Boger City, N.C., cemetery. The sheriff's office got a call from someone they believe to be Trickle. The caller said "there would be a dead body and it would be his," authorities said, and there was no answer when authorities called the number back. Trickle's granddaughter was buried in the same cemetery following an auto accident in 2001. Sheriff's Lieutenant Tim Johnson said foul play was not suspected.

Trickle was mourned with humor, which would probably have pleased the fun-loving NASCAR driver. He was a highly successful short-track driver and joined the Winston Cup series in 1989. He became rookie while pushing 50.  He got a cult status thanks to his willingness to laugh about the fact that he never won a Cup race, despite trying over 300 times. And innuendos about his name by ESPN anchors Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann helped, too.

Keith Olbermann had a custom of mentioning where Trickle finished while recapping each NASCAR race. The habit drew laughs from race fans throughout the nation.

Trickle had a famous chain-smoking habit. He placed his cigarette through a hole he carved in his helmet. There's a famous image of Trickle during the Winston 500 lighting a cigarette while driving his stock car with his knees during a caution lap.

"Dick always had a cigarette lighter in his car," said fellow NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine.

Bodine said there was only one way to describe Trickle. "Fun," he said. "Just plain fun."

His apparent suicide due to a sel-inflicted gunshot wound is hitting the community hard, though. "It's all just sad," Bodine said. "We don't understand why he would do this. Hopefully we will all learn why he would do that. There was something that triggered him to take his own life. We are all really saddened by this in the racing community."

"People everywhere knew his name," Bodine said. "That's why they used his likeness in that movie 'Days of Thunder.' He was such a character."

The main character in the cult classic Days of Thunder, played by Tom Cruise, was named Cole Trickle.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Dick Trickle on his passing today," NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said. "Dick was a legend in the short-track racing community, particularly in his home state of Wisconsin, and he was a true fan favorite. Personalities like Dick Trickle helped shape our sport. He will be missed."