Red Byron
| Red Byron | |||||||
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| Born | Robert Byron March 12, 1915 Boulder, Colorado, United States |
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| Died | November 11, 1960 (aged 45) Chicago, Illinois, United States |
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| Cause of death | heart attack | ||||||
| Achievements |
1949 Strictly Stock Champion (NASCAR's first official season) |
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| Awards |
Inducted into the National Motorsports Hall of Fame (U.S.) (1966) |
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| Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 15 races run over 3 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 1st (1949) | ||||||
| First race | (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 1951 Southern 500 (Darlington) | ||||||
| First win | 1949 (Daytona Beach) | ||||||
| Last win | 1949 (Martinsville) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of February 22, 2013. | |||||||
1949 Strictly Stock Champion (NASCAR's first official season)
1948 NASCAR Modified Champion (NASCAR's first season and its first Modified season)
1949 Daytona Beach Road Course Winner (Inaugural race)
Inducted into the National Motorsports Hall of Fame (U.S.) (1966)
Robert "Red" Byron (March 12, 1915 – November 11, 1960) was an American driver, who was successful in NASCAR competition in the sanctioning body's first years. He was NASCAR's first Modified champion (and its first champion in any division) in 1948 and its first Strictly Stock (predecessor to Monster Energy Cup Seriues) champion in 1949. Along with Bob Flock, he is considered one of the best drivers of the era. He won the first NASCAR race at Daytona Beach and Road Course and won the inaugural NASCAR Strictly Stock (now Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) driver's championship.
Born in Colorado he moved to Anniston, Alabama at an early age, Byron began racing in 1932 and was successful racing in Talladega by the start of the 1940s. His racing career was interrupted when he served in the United States Army Air Forces as a flight engineer during World War II. Byron's B-24 was shot at (not down) during the war and he suffered a serious injury to his left leg. The doctors helped partially help his leg, but he needed a special set up to race.
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