Dick Rathmann won 13 Grand National races, including the 1952 Southern 500, and was one of NASCAR's early Western stars along with his brother Jim, who became an Indianapolis 500 legend. The California brothers brought a new flavor to the Southern-dominated sport.
Rathmann died in 2000 at 74 in Florida, remembered as part of the pioneering generation that helped NASCAR go national.
At a Glance
- Born: January 6, 1926, Los Angeles, California
- Died: February 1, 2000, Melbourne, Florida
- Age: 74
- Cause of death: Natural causes
From the Book
This profile is adapted from Legends at Rest: NASCAR Legends by Howard Wear.
Portrait: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.