Friday Hassler – born on a Friday, hence the name – made 28 Grand National starts as a Tennessee independent in the late 1960s and early 1970s, part of the journeyman class that filled the fields.
During a 125-mile qualifying race at Daytona in 1972, Hassler crashed and was killed at 36. His unusual first name made him memorable; his death made him another statistic in a brutal era.
At a Glance
- Born: July 29, 1935, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Died: February 17, 1972, Daytona Beach, Florida
- Age: 36
- Cause of death: Injuries from a crash in a Daytona 125-mile qualifying race
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.