First NASCAR Champion. National Motorsports Hall of Fame. NASCAR Hall of Fame. He began his racing career in 1932, mostly in sprint cars and midget cars in his native Alabama. He enlisted in the US Army Air Forces before the start of World War II and served as a flight engineer on a B-24, where he was wounded in action. The injury to his leg was serious and required a brace, but that did not keep him from racing, as he developed a hand clutch and later a clutch bolted to his brace so that he could shift. He joined the newly founded NASCAR Modified circuit in 1948 and was its first champion. In 1949, NASCAR founded the Strictly Stock series, which was the predecessor to the current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, which he also won, as its first champion. Heath issues caused him to retire from racing just two years later, though he owned and managed other racing teams until his death in 1960. In 1966 he was elected to the National Motorsports Hall of Fame, was selected as one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998, and was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2018.
First NASCAR Champion. National Motorsports Hall of Fame. NASCAR Hall of Fame. He began his racing career in 1932, mostly in sprint cars and midget cars in his native Alabama. He enlisted in the US Army Air Forces before the start of World War II and served as a flight engineer on a B-24, where he was wounded in action. The injury to his leg was serious and required a brace, but that did not keep him from racing, as he developed a hand clutch and later a clutch bolted to his brace so that he could shift. He joined the newly founded NASCAR Modified circuit in 1948 and was its first champion. In 1949, NASCAR founded the Strictly Stock series, which was the predecessor to the current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, which he also won, as its first champion. Heath issues caused him to retire from racing just two years later, though he owned and managed other racing teams until his death in 1960. In 1966 he was elected to the National Motorsports Hall of Fame, was selected as one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998, and was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2018.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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Colorado
T. SGT
ARMY AIR FORCES
WORLD WAR II
AM & OLC-PH
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