Red Byron was NASCAR's first champion, winning the Modified title in 1948 and the first Strictly Stock championship in 1949. A decorated WWII veteran who flew 57 combat missions, he raced with a steel leg brace from a war injury – and still beat everyone.
Byron later managed Daytona International Speedway's early operations. He died of a heart attack in a Chicago hotel room in 1960 at just 45, the sport's first champion gone far too soon.
At a Glance
- Born: March 12, 1915, Anniston, Alabama
- Died: November 11, 1960, Chicago, Illinois
- Age: 45
- Cause of death: Heart attack
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.
Portrait: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.