NASCAR Hall of Fame Nominee Preview: Red Byron - Speedway Digest

Red Byron (1915-1960) was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver from 1949 to 1951. He is named as one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers, despite his brief career. Byron’s hometown is Anniston, AL. He is on the NASCAR Hall of Fame nomination list for 2017.

Red Byron was the first Modified (1948) and Strictly Stock (1949) champion. He also won the first ever NASCAR race in Daytona Beach on the beach. Byron only competed in 15 NASCAR races. In his three years of racing, he won two races and two poles over his brief career.

Byron drove for Raymond Park over his career.

He was a World War II veteran, in which he was injured. Due to a leg injury from the war, he drove with a brace attached to the clutch pedal to assist him. His brief career was attributed to the leg injury.

Although the injury ended his driving career, Byron remained faithful to motorsports. Before he passed, he was developing an American automobile to compete in the coveted 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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Caleb Whisler

I am 19 years old from Atlanta, GA. I have been following motorsports since I was born. Motorsports has been "passed down" in my family. I am named after NASCAR Hall of Famer, William Caleb Yarborough, also known as Cale. Growing up in the southeast, racing was something that was a Sunday tradition after church. What an honor it is to share that passion with others.