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Copyright © 2005 FredLorenzen.com. All rights reserved. Revised: 11/07/07 11:40:13 -0500. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works. FAIR USE NOTICE: This web page may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This page is operated under the assumption that this use on the Web constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. Any text or images that you feel need to be removed please contact me. FredLorenzen.com is not associated or affiliated with any racing club or organizations including that of NASCAR. As of this date, website has not been authorized by Fred Lorenzen. Website is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Opinions and other content are not necessarily those of editors or sponsors. Validity or accuracy of content not guaranteed. |
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FredLorenzen.com
brings
you the history of one of Nascar's Top 50 Drivers of all time. This
unofficial site preserves records, stories memories, & statistics.
As a young man, he won the
National Gas Eliminators at the tender age of 18 proving his mettle
on the drag strip. Just a few years later he would try his hand at
another form of racing. Stock car racing. The results would be a
pair of United States Auto Club Championships in 1958 and 1959, and
a venture into NASCAR as a full time driver for Holman-Moody in
1961. It was in NASCAR’s southern stock car circuit, referred to as
the Grand National Division (currently Nextel Cup) that Lorenzen
would establish his Fischer-like credentials. In his first season
as a factory driver, young Fred would outduel veteran Curtis Turner
at Darlington’s famous egg shaped oval to claim victory in the
annual Rebel 300. The win would have been significant had a rookie
simply outdriven the legendary Turner, but Lorenzen went a step
further. He actually created a never before traveled groove on the
high banks of Darlington. In turn two on the final lap, with room
for only one and a half cars to proceed, Fred Lorenzen earned a
nickname that would follow him forever. The nickname was 'Fearless
Freddie'. At 130 miles an hour with the wall fast approaching,
Lorenzen did the impossible. He faked high, drove low, and while
Turner was hopelessly trying to run him into the outer guardrail,
Fred Lorenzen somehow passed on the inside. The maneuver frustrated
Turner so much that he slammed his car into Lorenzen during the
victory lap. It was vintage Turner. It was vintage Lorenzen.
Championships not withstanding,
the record books were other wise re-written by Lorenzen. He became
the first driver in history to win races at all five of the south’s
original super speedways, accomplishing the feat in 1966 with a win
at Rockingham. It took Richard Petty two decades to
accomplish the same feat. Lorenzen did it in six years. At his
initial retirement in 1967 (he would later come out of retirement to
race two and a half years in uncompetitive cars) the Golden Boy had
won an even dozen super speedway events. His closest competitor was
the late Fireball Roberts with 10. Robert's number is often disputed
as records were not as accurately kept in those days. The actual
number may be 9. Richard Petty and David Pearson, despite more
super speedway starts, were still in single digits. In direct
competition between Lorenzen, Petty, and Pearson, from 1961- through
April 1967 (when Lorenzen retired), Lorenzen saw victory circle 26
times. Petty 21. Pearson 8. During that same time frame young
Lorenzen entered 113 major races. In addition to posting 26 wins he
finished in the top ten 65 times, and won 31 pole positions. When
one considers the attrition rate then was far higher than today, the
numbers are amazing. His modern day trophy case displays 600
winners trophies. A combination of drag racing, stock car racing,
modified cars he drove early on, and pole positions at tracks
ranging from tiny Martinsville Speedway to the twisting road course
at Riverside. Aside from compiling staggering win percentages, the
Elmhurst Express became the first driver to win the same 500 mile
race three times in succession, winning the Atlanta 500 from 1962
through 1964. He also set a record in 1964 by winning five
consecutive starts. The record was even more impressive because he
did it while competing against a full complement of factory driver’s
at the major events. Although Richard Petty broke the streak by
winning 10 in 1967, it should be noted he did so while running a
mixture of minor and major tracks. In several of Petty's victories
many factory regulars were not even entered. And the irony of the
Petty record is that he set it after Fred Lorenzen retired. A
common saying in the south that year was, “'Ole Richard wasn’t doing
so good when Fearless Fred was running.” A truer statement was
never spoken.
Aside from dominance on the race
track, Fred Lorenzen was a rare athlete. His charisma was
unparalleled. Always a nice guy who never said no to an autograph,
Lorenzen seemed to have the All-American qualities of universal
appeal. He was a handsome man with blonde hair and a chiseled chin,
and had a legion of female followers that would make Dale Junior
envious. He was also a man’s man. Tough, hard nosed, and never one
to give an inch on the racetrack when the checkered flag was near,
he was respected by his peers. Perhaps his most loyal followers
however, were the thousands of kids who idolized the cool driver of
the number 28 Ford. If time was not an issue, Freddie, as he was
known by everyone, would politely ask kids their name before signing
their programs. Then in his patented signature he would write, Best
of Luck, “John”, Fred Lorenzen “28”. 
