Curtis turner april 12, 1924 october 4, 1970 was an early nascar driver. Nascar driver curtis turner right, with driver joe weatherly was one the first to view the sport as a moneymaking venture and among its first superstars. Curtis turner would hit a driver to get them out of the way and if they. In addition to his success in racing, he made a fortune, lost it, and remade it buying and selling timberlands. In epilogue, the faa lifted the pilots license of turner, who also had lost his drivers license. Turner, who was piloting the plane, was under the influence of alcohol.
Curtis turner was banned from nascar for attempting to start a drivers union in 1961, only to be reinstated four years later after a number of other drivers and. Aug 03, 2011 the 20 dirtiest drivers in nascar history. Here is a collection of photos from his legendary driving career courtesy of the curtis thomas. Curtis turner and bobby allison were involved in a crash that got them disqualified from the race in addition to police intervention. Curtis turner nationality american born april 12, 1924 hometown floyd, virginia died october 4, 1970 place of death punxsutawney, pennsylvania racing highlights.
Turner was inducted into the international motorsports hall of fame in 1992, and in 1998 was named as one of nascars fifty greatest drivers. Jan 17, 2016 nascar driver curtis turner right, with driver joe weatherly was one the first to view the sport as a moneymaking venture and among its first superstars. The story of that unexpected triumph began decades earlier when the driver, curtis turner, helped glen wood and his wood brothers racing team secure backing from ford motor company, a relationship that continues to this day. The curtis turner museum was founded in 2001 by curtis daughter, margaret sue turner wright. In gripping prose, and with full access to the files of turner s widow, biographer robert edelstein thrillingly recreates the life of this american legend. Nascars 15 most feared drivers of all time bleacher. Curtis turner once landed his aero commander, a 2 engine private airplane on main street, easley, south carolina, way back in the 1960s. He cracked, hell, i cant even get a hunting license. Throughout his life he developed a reputation for drinking and partying. It was at bowman gray that glen wood the race driver was at his best. The incident started on lap eight of the race and the two drivers would knock and spin each other for approximately ten laps. Curtis turner gear, curtis turner diecasts, store, curtis.
In addition to his success in racing, he made a fortune, lost it, and remade it buying. Another driver cut down in the prime of his racing career was glenn fireball roberts, whose life ended. Born in floyd county, virginia, curtis made his forturn in the timber and lumber business, and was famous for his hard living and hard driving. Richard petty dominated at darlington again, leading 266 of 291 laps and beating david pearson by. Had more success in nascar, winning 17 races from 1949 until 1965, and was easily one of the first stars of the discipline. Curtis turner, the original superstar of nascar, whose cars danced brilliant slides across the old beach course at daytona, whose determination behind the wheel made him a fan favorite and a threat on dirt ovals and swift superspeedways, and whose largerthanlife presence in the sport as a driverbusinessman made his name, wore the distinction. In gripping prose, and with full access to the files of turners widow, biographer robert edelstein thrillingly recreates the life of this american legend. Here is a collection of photos from his legendary driving career courtesy of.
Click on the site to see curtis turners career results at that track glossary. Curtis turner stats, race results, wins, news, record, videos. Named one of nascars 50 greatest drivers in 1998, curtis turner was perhaps the hardest charger ever to drive a race car. He finished sixth in the championship standings during nascars first season in 1949 and won 18 races in nascars top division in his career. He began his racing career in 1946 when he finished 18th in a field of 18 contestants in a race at mt. Curtis turner, the original superstar of nascar, whose cars danced brilliant slides across the old beach course at daytona, whose determination behind the wheel made him a fan favorite and a threat on dirt ovals and swift superspeedways, and whose largerthanlife presence in the sport as a driver businessman made his name, wore the distinction. The 20 dirtiest drivers in nascar history bleacher.
May 20, 2015 nascar hall of fame, class of 2016 called by some the babe ruth of stock car racing, curtis turner was among the fastest and most colorful competitors in the early years of nascar premier. Grab a trendy curtis turner jacket or pit shirt for the ultimate race day look. Get the latest race results, news, videos, pictures, win record and more for curtis turner on. Curtis turner stats, race results, wins, news, record. Turner was attempting to obtain the money necessary to regain control of charlotte motor speedway, the financially strapped race track he built and was president of until being forced out following the 1961 world 600. Curtis turner 46, race car driver, was killed when his aero commander aircraft crashed into mountains 20 minutes after takeoff. Dec 24, 2012 nascars 15 most feared drivers of all time. Add to your collection with authentic curtis turner memorabilia and collectibles such as curtis turner diecasts, home decor and much more. Curtis is the only driver to win a major nascar race after he was redflagged because his car was the only one still running at the asheville, north carolina track on sept. Driver curtis turner 1958 nascar grand national results. Get the latest race results driver curtis turner on. May 10, 2020 curtis turner quit as a ford driver and competed in the race in smokey yunicks chevrolet. Jimmie won seven times, there was a racecar driver named curtis turner who made those good ol boys seem like pussycats by comparison. The 20 dirtiest drivers in nascar history bleacher report.
Curtis turner flips during a practice session for the 1967 atlanta 500. Turner, curtis historic 2006 inductees hall of fame. Curtis turner was born april 12, 1924 in floyd county, virginia and. Big bill france, who banned turner for attempting to unionize drivers and later reinstated him, said in 1972, curtis turner was the greatest race car driver i. He was a businessman who ran a large timber merchants but also had real estate interests. The life and good times of curtis turner race fans forever. Throughout his life, he developed a reputation for drinking and partying. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. Curtis turner quit as a ford driver and competed in the race in smokey yunicks chevrolet. Curtis turner was one of the early pioneers of nascar racing, competiting against such greats as junior johnson, glen fireball roberts, and joe weatherly. Curtis turners stardom made him an invaluable force in endorsing nascar. A quick look at 2016 nascar hall of fame inductee curtis turner. Click on the site to see curtis turners career results at that track.
Curtis turner race results in the 1965 nascar grand national series. Curtis turner, who was inducted into the nascar hall of fame on saturday, had big reputations for his life both on and off of race tracks. Curtis started taking up the sport after world war two and enjoyed his success. Curtis morton pops turner 19241970 find a grave memorial. Curtis is the only driver to win a major nascar race after he was redflagged because his car was the only one still running at the asheville, north carolina track. Dads safe highspeed performance driving school at the race track he built. Curtis turner was the greatest racecar driver i have ever seen. Richard petty dominated at darlington again, leading 266 of. Lee petty clubbed turner with a tire iron in one dispute, and once a driver named bobby meyers came after turner with a billy club. There were 23 americanborn drivers and one foreign driver don biederman. Race drivers called him old lead foot, referring to the constant heavy pressure he kept on the accelerator. Dec 31, 2016 curtis turner flips during a practice session for the 1967 atlanta 500.
Nascars 15 most feared drivers of all time bleacher report. Floyd native curtis turner will be inducted into the nascar hall of fame on friday, jan. Reports indicated the movement started when nascar driver curtis turner approached the teamsters about a loan. Curtis turner april 12, 1924 october 4, 1970 was an american stock car racer. Curtis turner racing career profile driver database. Even france, the man who robbed him of five years of racing via the suspension, said in 1972 that curtis turner was the greatest race car driver i have ever seen. But back in the 1950s, the stadium had another set of stars glen wood, curtis turner, pee wee jones, perk brown and the original myers brothers, bobby and billy.
Turners love of driving started at a very early age, being a delivery boy for familymade moonshine in the. Curtis, old man, said meyers, im just lookin for a place to put it. Official fan page on curtis turner nascar driver, my dad. Curtis turner to be inducted into nascar hall of fame. Curtis turners life embodied everything that makes nascar the biggest spectator sport in american history. Every nascar fan can find officially licensed curtis turner clothing and gear as we offer a variety of sizes and styles. Dale inman was one of three most notable crew chiefs in the race along with frankie scott and bud hartje.
Curtis was not only a race driver, he also flew his own planes long before most nascar drivers even flew to race tracks on private planes. In 1961 he was banned from nascar for four years after he attempted to organize racing drivers into the teamsters union. Called by some the babe ruth of stock car racing, curtis turner was. On that occasion, big bill france, who knew them all and had seen them all race said, curtis turner was the greatest racecar driver i have ever seen. Nascar hall of fame, class of 2016 called by some the babe ruth of stock car racing, curtis turner was among the fastest and most colorful competitors in the early years of nascar premier. In 1950, an american group of drivers, car owners and officials competed in the 1950 mexican road race in an effort to promote nascar racing. Curtis turner was officially inducted to the nascar hall of fame on january 22.
Jan 24, 2016 curtis turner was banned from nascar for attempting to start a drivers union in 1961, only to be reinstated four years later after a number of other drivers and track operators lobbied for his. Curtis turner s life embodied everything that makes nascar the biggest spectator sport in american history. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Curtis turner was banned from nascar for attempting to start a drivers union in 1961, only to be reinstated four years later after a number of other drivers and track operators lobbied for his.
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