Auto Race Car Driver. One of the first superstars of NASCAR and considered by many to be the greatest stock car driver to never win a NASCAR Grand National (Winston Cup) Championship. He received the nickname "Fireball" as a pitcher on his high school baseball team, not as a racecar driver. His NASCAR debut came in 1950 and he won his first race that same year on August 13 in Hillsboro, North Carolina. His first full season was 1956 and he won 5 races and finished 5th or better in 16 of 33 races. In 1957 he won 8 races, had 27 top 10 finishes, was voted Most Popular Driver, and was voted Florida's Professional Athlete of the Year. In 1958 he entered only 10 races but still had 6 wins. In 1962 he won both the Daytona 500 and the Daytona Firecracker 400 and also won 4 more races in 1963. He was winless in 1964 entering the World 600 on May 24 in Charlotte, North Carolina. On lap 7 of that race he was involved in an accident with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson. His car hit the outside wall, flipped over, and burst into flames. Ned Jarrett rushed to the scene and pulled him out of the burning wreck. Thirty-six days after suffering 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 80% of his body, he contracted pneumonia, sepsis, and a fever of 104. He died 2 days later. His career ended with 33 wins, 35 poles, and 22 second place finishes. In 206 career starts he finished in the Top Five 93 times. He was inducted into the Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame in 1965.
Auto Race Car Driver. One of the first superstars of NASCAR and considered by many to be the greatest stock car driver to never win a NASCAR Grand National (Winston Cup) Championship. He received the nickname "Fireball" as a pitcher on his high school baseball team, not as a racecar driver. His NASCAR debut came in 1950 and he won his first race that same year on August 13 in Hillsboro, North Carolina. His first full season was 1956 and he won 5 races and finished 5th or better in 16 of 33 races. In 1957 he won 8 races, had 27 top 10 finishes, was voted Most Popular Driver, and was voted Florida's Professional Athlete of the Year. In 1958 he entered only 10 races but still had 6 wins. In 1962 he won both the Daytona 500 and the Daytona Firecracker 400 and also won 4 more races in 1963. He was winless in 1964 entering the World 600 on May 24 in Charlotte, North Carolina. On lap 7 of that race he was involved in an accident with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson. His car hit the outside wall, flipped over, and burst into flames. Ned Jarrett rushed to the scene and pulled him out of the burning wreck. Thirty-six days after suffering 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 80% of his body, he contracted pneumonia, sepsis, and a fever of 104. He died 2 days later. His career ended with 33 wins, 35 poles, and 22 second place finishes. In 206 career starts he finished in the Top Five 93 times. He was inducted into the Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame in 1965.
Bio by: Decal
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