Stacy was born in Maysville, Kentucky, and served in the United States Army during World War II as a tank driver in the U.S. Third Army under the command of General George S. Patton. His military service instilled the discipline and mechanical awareness that would later inform his approach to motorsport.
Stacy made his first NASCAR Grand National Series start in 1952 at Dayon Speedway, finishing 12th out of 30 cars. After that modest debut, he shifted his focus to the MARC Series — later to become the ARCA Menards Series — where he built a formidable record over the following decade.
He narrowly missed the 1957 MARC title, losing to Iggy Katona by just 4.5 points in one of the slimmest margins in series history. That near-miss sharpened his focus. He won the MARC championship in 1958, 1959, and 1960, becoming one of the dominant forces in the series. His winning record at Canfield Speedway was particularly strong, with victories in 1957, 1959, and 1960. In 1959 he opened the season in April by winning two of his first three races at Dayton and Canfield.
After a decade establishing himself in the MARC Series, Stacy made the decision to return to NASCAR's Grand National level. He re-entered Grand National competition in 1961 at the age of 40, competing in 15 of the 52 scheduled races that season.
His first full year back produced an immediate headline result. At the 1961 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, Stacy led 72 laps and beat Fireball Roberts to claim one of NASCAR's most prestigious race wins. He added eight top-ten finishes and four top-five finishes across the 1961 season.
The 1962 season proved to be the peak of his Grand National career. Stacy won three races across the year:
The Rebel 300 at Darlington Raceway — also the final convertible race in NASCAR history — beating Marvin Panch
The World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, charging from 18th place on the grid to defeat Joe Weatherly
The Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway, finishing more than three laps ahead of Richard Petty
The 1962 campaign yielded three wins, seven top-ten finishes, and five top-five finishes.
Stacy could not replicate those results in 1963, failing to win a race but still managing nine top-ten and four top-five finishes, along with a career-best 14th-place ranking in the final points standings. Health issues began to affect him in 1964 at the age of 43. He made just a handful of further Grand National starts, with his final appearance coming at the Firecracker 400 in 1965, where he finished 24th.
In total, Stacy competed in 45 NASCAR Grand National races, recording four wins, 13 top-five finishes, and 24 top-ten finishes.
Stacy's four Grand National victories, achieved in a compressed two-year window from 1961 to 1962, included wins at two of NASCAR's most storied venues — Darlington and Charlotte. The Southern 500 win in 1961, defeating Fireball Roberts, and the 1962 World 600 charge from 18th to first remain the defining moments of a career that unfolded largely outside the sport's biggest stage.
After retiring from racing, Stacy settled in Florida, where he owned a car dealership. He died on May 14, 1986, at the age of 64.