Fireball Roberts

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Fireball Roberts
1950 (Hillsboro)
Last win1964 (Augusta)
Wins Top tens Poles
33 122 32
Statistics current as of February 23, 2013.

Edward Glenn "Fireball" Roberts Jr. (January 20, 1929 – July 2, 1964) was an American stock car racer.

Background

Roberts was born in Tavares, Florida, and raised in Apopka, Florida, where he was interested in both auto racing and baseball. He was a pitcher for the Zellwood Mud Hens, an American Legion baseball team, where he earned the nickname, "Fireball" because of his fastball.[1] He enlisted with the United States Army Air Corps in 1945, but was discharged after basic training because of his asthma.

Racing career

"Fireball" Roberts' 1957 NASCAR Ford
Roberts' 1962 Daytona 500 winning car

He attended the

modified races at Florida tracks such as Seminole Speedway
.

"Fireball" Roberts continued to amass victories on the circuit, despite the changes in NASCAR, as it moved away from shorter dirt tracks to superspeedways in the 1950s and 1960s. In his 206 career NASCAR Grand National races, he won 33 times and had 32 poles. He finished in the top-five 45 percent of the time, and in the top-ten 59 percent of the time. He won both the Daytona 500 and Firecracker 250 events in 1962,[2] driving a black and gold 1962 Pontiac built by car builder legend, Smokey Yunick. He also designed Augusta International Raceway, where he would last win.

Between 1962 and 1964, Roberts competed in multiple major sports car races, including a class win at the 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Ferrari 250 GTO entered by North American Racing Team.

Labor union

In 1961, Roberts, temporary president of the Federation of Professional Athletes, was in dispute with NASCAR president, Bill France, over the Teamsters' Union affiliate – the FPA – which he and Curtis Turner had helped organize and which France was trying to disband.[3] Unlike the banned Curtis Turner and Tim Flock, Roberts soon returned to the NASCAR fold.

Death

On May 24, 1964, at the

burns over 80 percent of his body and was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition. Although it was thought that Roberts had an allergic reaction to flame-retardant chemicals, he was secretly an asthmatic, and the chemicals affected his breathing.[4][5]

Roberts was able to survive for several weeks, and it appeared he might pull through, but he took a turn for the worse on June 30, 1964. He contracted pneumonia and sepsis and had slipped into a coma by the next day. Roberts died from his burns on July 2, 1964.[1]

Roberts' death, as well as the deaths of

coveralls would be phased in, leading to mandatory Nomex racing suits. Roberts had lost his close friend, Joe Weatherly
, in January 1964 at the Motor Trend 500, at Riverside, California.

Many sources reported that Roberts was planning to retire since he had taken a public relations position at the

Falstaff Brewing Company and that the race in which he was killed was to be one of the final races of his career.[6]

Legacy

Despite having his career cut short and having never won a

NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers. Other career accolades he won include induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America[7] in 1995. In 2000, the city of Concord, North Carolina, named a street near Charlotte Motor Speedway
in his honor.

After Roberts' death, NASCAR mandated that all drivers wear flame retardant coveralls while on track. They also instituted the five-point safety harness, and the special, contoured driver's seat, as requirements for all NASCAR vehicles.

The "Fireball Run", named for Roberts, was started in 2007. This

streaming TV "adventurally" series, headquartered at Universal Studios in Florida, covers 40 teams as they compete in an 8-day, 2000 mile race and life-sized trivia game to raise money for missing and exploited children organizations. The Fireball Run is credited with assisting in the recovery of 38 missing children.[citation needed
]

In 2013 Roberts was nominated for induction in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, and he was included in the 2014 induction ceremony.[8]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 NGNC Pts Ref
1950 Jim Davis 11 Hudson
DAB

33
CLT 2nd 1848.5 [9]
51 Ford LAN
15
MAR CAN VER DSP MCF CLT
Sam Rice 71 Olds HBO
1
DSP
11
HAM

2
MAR
6
WIN HBO
21
82 DAR
2
LAN
3
NWS
16
VER
1951 85 Plymouth
DAB

45
12th 930 [10]
Sam Rice 11 Olds CLT
8
NMO
19
GAR HBO
14
ASF NWS
38
MAR
32
CAN CLS
24
CLB DSP GAR GRS BAI HEI
AWS
MCF ALS MSF FMS MOR ABS
Saverance Motors Ford DAR
5
CLB
2
CCS LAN CLT DSP WIL HBO
TPN
PGS MAR OAK NWS
HMS
JSP ATL GAR NMO
1952 PBS
DAB

52
JSP
24
NWS
MAR CLB
21
ATL CCS LAN
DAR

8
DSP CAN HAY FMS HBO CLT MSF
NIF
OSW MON MOR PPS MCF
AWS
DAR
49
CCS LAN DSP WIL
16
HBO MAR NWS 59th - [11]
Bill Snowden 16 Hudson ATL
18
PBS
1953 Saverance Motors 11 Ford PBS
DAB
HAR
NWS
CLT
RCH
CCS LAN CLB
HCY
MAR PMS RSP
39
LOU FFS LAN TCS WIL MCF PIF MOR ATL RVS LCF DAV HBO
AWS
PAS
HCY
132nd 84 [12]
Leland Colvin Olds DAR
45
CCS LAN
BLF
WIL
NWS
MAR ATL
1954 25 PBS
DAB

8
JSP ATL
22
OSP OAK
NWS
HBO CCS LAN WIL MAR SHA RSP
20
CLT GAR CLB
13
LND
HCY
MCF WGS PIF
AWS
SFS
GRS MOR OAK CLT SAN COR DAR
7
CCS CLT LAN MAS MAR
NWS
22nd 1648 [13]
1955 Bob Fish M-1 Buick TCS PBS JSP
DAB

48
OSP CLB HBO NWS
MGY
LAN CLT
HCY
ASF TUS MAR RCH
NCF
FOR
LIN MCF FON AIR CLT PIF CLB
AWS
MOR ALS
NYF
SAN CLT
FOR
MAS RSP DAR
66
MGY
LAN RSP GPS MAS CLB MAR LVP
NWS
HBO 201st - [14]
1956
DePaolo Engineering
22 Ford
HCY
CLT WSS PBS ASF
DAB

59
PBS
5
WIL ATL NWS
25
LAN
31
RCH

18
CLB CON GPS
HCY
HBO
4
MAR
16
LIN CLT POR EUR
NYF
MER MAS
21
CLT
4
MCF POR
AWS

18
RSP
1*
PIF
2
CSF
CHI
1
CCF
4
MGY

10
OKL

3
ROA
3
OBS
4
NOR
8
PIF
8
MYB
1
POR DAR
51
CSH
4
CLT
19
LAN
17
POR CLB
4
HBO
1
NWP
1
CLT
10
CCF
12
MAR
5
HCY WIL
4
7th 5794 [15]
12 SAN
8
1957 22 WSS
2
CON TIC
1*
DAB

37
CON
4
WIL
9
HBO
17
AWS

13
NWS
1**
LAN
1*
CLT
1
PIF
2
GBF
5
POR CCF
1
RCH

2*
MAR
9
POR EUR LIN
2
LCS
14
ASP 6th 8268 [16]
Roberts Racing NWP
1
CLB
16
CPS PIF
9
JAC
12
HCY
5
NOR
21
LCS
7
GLN

2
KPC
LIN
31
OBS
6
MYB
3*
DAR
33
NYF

5
AWS

10
CSF
SCF LAN
17*
CLB
15
CCF
14
CLT
2
NBR
1*
CON
1*
NWS
21*
GBF
11 RSP
13
MAS
3
POR
Dick Beaty 34 Ford CLT
5
Buck Baker Racing
7 Chevy MAR
12
1958
Bob Fish M-1 Buick FAY
DAB

9
CON FAY WIL HBO FAY CLB PIF 11th 4420 [17]
Beau Morgan 494 Ford ATL
3
CLT
MAR
ODS
OBS GPS GBF STR
NWS
BGS
Frank Strickland 22 Chevy TRN
1*
RSD
CLB NBS REF LIN
HCY
AWS
RSP
1*
MCC
SLS
TOR
BUF
MCF BEL
BRR
CLB
NSV

30
AWS

1
BGS MBS DAR
1*
CLT BIR
1
CSF
GAF
RCH
HBO SAS
MAR

1*
NWS ATL
2
1959 Jim Stephens 3 Pontiac FAY
DAY

33
DAY
34
HBO CON DAY
1*
HEI CLT MBS CLT
NSV
AWS BGS GPS CLB DAR
7
HCY
RCH
CSF
HBO 16th 3676 [18]
22 Chevy ATL
8
WIL BGS CLB
NWS
REF HCY
E. C. Wilson 48 Chevy
MAR

25
TRN CLT NSV ASP PIF GPS
Buck Baker Racing
88 Chevy ATL
6
CLB WIL
RCH
BGS
AWS
Lynton Tyson
MAR

30
AWS
NWS
CON
1960 John Hines 22 Pontiac CLT CLB
DAY

1**
DAY
DAY
57
CLT NWS PHO CLB
MAR
HCY WIL BGS
GPS
AWS
DAR

20
PIF HBO
RCH
HMS
CLT
35
BGS
DAY

31
HEI MAB MBS
ATL

1
BIR NSV
AWS
PIF
CLB
SBO BGS DAR
9
HCY
CSF
GSP HBO
MAR
NWS
CLT
23*
RCH
ATL
34
29th 4700 [19]
1961 Smokey Yunick CLT JSP
DAY

1*
DAY
DAY
20*
PIF
AWS
ATL

42
GPS HBO BGS
MAR
NWS

4
CLB HCY
RCH
DAR
5*
CLT
2
PIF BIR
GPS
BGS
NOR HAS STR
DAY

5*
ATL
12
CLB
BRI

2
NSV BGS DAR
2*
HCY
RCH
CSF
ATL
3
CLT
29*
5th 17600 [20]
75
HMS

1**
MAR
3
CLT
6
CLT RSD ASP
Rex Lovette 127 Pontiac MBS
21
B. G. Holloway 59 Pontiac
AWS

31
RCH SBO
Cotton Owens 6 Pontiac
MAR

4
Bud Moore Engineering 18 Pontiac NWS
2
Rex Lovette 22 Pontiac
BRI

26
GPS
16
HBO
5
1962
Jim Stephens CON
AWS
DAY

1*
DAY
DAY
1*
CON
AWS
SVH HBO
RCH

5
CLB
NWS

4
GPS
MBS
MAR

18*
BGS BRI
2
RCH HCY CON
DAR

32
PIF
CLT

9
ATL

4
BGS
AUG
RCH SBO
DAY

1
CLB
ASH
GPS
AUG
SVH MBS BRI
36
CHT
2
NSV
19
HUN
AWS
STR
BGS
PIF VAL DAR
36
HCY
RCH

17
DTS
AUG
MAR

7
NWS

29
CLT
2
ATL
10*
8th 16380 [21]
1963 Banjo Matthews BIR GGS
20
THS
RSD

4
DAY

6
DAY
DAY
21
PIF
AWS
HBO
ATL

2
HCY 5th 22642 [22]
Holman-Moody Ford
BRI

1*
AUG
RCH

23
GPS
SBO
BGS
MAR

28
NWS
CLB
THS
DAR

2
ODS
RCH
CLT

10
BIR
ATL

31
DAY

1*
MBS SVH DTS BGS
ASH
OBS
1
BRR

5
BRI

29
GPS NSV CLB AWS PIF
BGS
ONA DAR
1
HCY
RCH
MAR
7
DTS
NWS

4*
THS CLT
4
SBO
HBO RSD
4
1964
CON AUG
1
JSP SVH
RSD

3
DAY

7
DAY
DAY
37
RCH
BRI

2
GPS
BGS ATL
20
AWS
HBO PIF
CLB
NWS

31
MAR

5
SVH
DAR

2
LGY HCY SBO CLT
35
GPS
ASH
ATL
CON NSV CHT BIR VAL PIF DAY ODS OBS
BRR
ISP GLN
LIN
BRI NSV
MBS
AWS
DTS ONA CLB BGS STR DAR
HCY
RCH
ODS
HBO
MAR SVH NWS CLT HAR AUG JAC 27th 9900 [23]
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1959 Jim Stephens Pontiac 46 45
1960 John Hines Pontiac 3 57
1961 Smokey Yunick Pontiac 1 20*
1962 Jim Stephens Pontiac 1 1*
1963 Banjo Matthews Pontiac 1 21
1964 Holman-Moody Ford 15 37

References

  1. ^ a b "FIREBALL ROBERTS DEAD OF INJURIES; Stock‐Car Racing Driver Was Top Money‐Winner". The New York Times. Associated Press. 3 July 1964. p. 21. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  2. ^ Caraviello, David (2013-07-08). "Link to Allisons, history sweetens Johnson's Daytona sweep". NASCAR. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  3. ^ Augusta Chronicle, August 11, 1961, Page 13.
  4. ^ "Fireball Roberts Home Page". www.fireballroberts.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  5. ^ Houston, Rick (2012-10-09). "Dressing the part". NASCAR. Archived from the original on 2012-10-11. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  6. ^ "Fireball Roberts". howstuffworks.com. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  7. ^ Fireball Roberts at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
  8. ^ Pearce, Al (2013-05-22). "Dale Jarrett, Maurice Petty, Tim Flock, Jack Ingram, Fireball Roberts elected to NASCAR Hall of Fame". Autoweek. Archived from the original on 2013-06-09. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  9. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1950 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  10. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1951 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  11. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1952 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  12. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1953 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  13. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1954 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  14. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1955 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  15. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1956 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  16. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1957 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  17. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1958 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  18. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1959 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  19. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1960 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  20. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1961 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  21. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1962 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  22. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1963 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  23. ^ "Fireball Roberts – 1964 NASCAR Grand National Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.

External links

Achievements
Preceded by Daytona 500 Winner
1962
Succeeded by