The NASCAR driver won 26 races in his Hall of Fame career, including the Daytona 500 and the Coca-Cola 600.
Fred Lorenzen has passed away just shy of his 90th birthday after bravely battling dementia. Born in Elmhurst, Illinois on December 30, 1934, Lorenzen was one of the first “yankees” to make a name for himself in NASCAR. He was affectionately known as the “Golden Boy” and was beloved by competitors and fans alike. His nickname was a car nod to his movie-star looks and affable personality.
Before becoming a beloved NASCAR hero, Lorenzen drove in the USAC Stock Car division, winning in back-to-back seasons in 1958 and 1959. Lorenzen’s star rose when he switched to NASCAR and drove for Holman-Moody, getting the call to drive for the legendary team on Christmas Eve in 1959.
Winning Big
In 1963, he became the first NASCAR competitor to win over $100,000 in a single season. It goes without saying that he was one of the sport’s true superstars, and a victory in the 1965 Daytona 500 solidified that stardom. Lorenzen’s win marked the first rain-shortened Daytona 500 in history.
Lorenzen would win 26 times in NASCAR, including a pair of grueling Coca-Cola 600 victories at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1963 and 1965. However, he would retire in 1966 at just 32 years old. He was tiring of the travel, experiencing health problems, and dealing with stress – and professional consequences – from Ford’s boycott regarding NASCAR’s engine displacement rules.
Lorenzen would attempt a brief return in 1970, driving a Dodge in that year’s Coca-Cola 600 and leading for 47 laps before being sidelined by an engine failure. He would attempt 28 more races between 1970 and 1972 before calling it quits for good.
Thankfully, smart investments allowed Lorenzen a comfortable retirement, although he did experience success as a realtor in the Chicagoland area. He would be inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association in 1978 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1991. In 2015, he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a fitting cherry on top of an incredible career. Lorenzen passed away on December 18, 2024 at the age of 89. He will be missed by his family, friends, fans, fellow competitors, and anyone who has evey dreamed of conquering the high banks of Daytona.
Image: Getty Inmages
Leave a Reply