2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame member Fred Lorenzen has passed away at the age of 89.
Lorenzen got his start as a mechanic with the famed Holman-Moody in 1960, but was elevated to lead driver by the end of the year.
Lorenzen won three races in only 15 starts the following season. Lorenzen’s best overall season came in 1963 as he finished with six wins, 21 top fives and 23 top 10s in 29 starts. Despite missing 26 races that season, he finished third in the standings.
In 1964, he entered 16 of the scheduled 62 races but won eight, including five consecutive starts. During that stretch, Lorenzen led 1,679 of the possible 1,953 laps, one of the most dominant runs in NASCAR history. In 1965, he won two of NASCAR’s major events —the Daytona 500 and the World 600.
Lorenzen retired in 1967 but made a brief comeback from 1970-1972. Lorenzen was an extremely popular driver with fans, to the point that he had several nicknames—“Golden Boy,” “Fearless Freddie” and “The Elmhurst Express.” In 1998, he was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers.
— NASCAR Hall of Fame —
NASCAR Statement:
“Fred Lorenzen was one of NASCAR’s first true superstars. A fan favorite, he helped NASCAR expand from its original roots. Fred was the picture-perfect NASCAR star, helping to bring the sport to the silver screen – which further grew NASCAR’s popularity during its early years. For many years, NASCAR’s “Golden Boy” was also its gold standard, a fact that eventually led him to the sport’s pinnacle, a rightful place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I want to offer our condolences to the friends and family of Fred Lorenzen.” – Jim France, NASCAR Chairman & CEO
NASCAR Hall of Fame Statement:
The NASCAR Hall of Fame team joins the racing community in mourning the passing of Fred Lorenzen, a legend whose impact will forever be felt in the sport.
Statement from NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley on the passing of Fred Lorenzen:
“First and foremost, on behalf of the NASCAR Hall of Fame team, I want to offer our most sincere condolences to Fred’s son Chris, daughter Amanda and the entire Lorenzen family on the passing of Fred Lorenzen.
Fred’s nicknames personify him as well as anyone. “Fast Freddie” or “Fearless Freddie” described his penchant for driving fast and on the largest of NASCAR tracks. “The Golden Boy” was a nod to his Hollywood good looks. That combination made him one of the most successful and recognizable stars of NASCAR in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. His leading-man good looks and smooth driving earned him legions of fans and brought a new style and class to the sport.
Although he never competed in a full season, Fred became the first driver to earn $100,000 in a single season after competing in just 29 of the 55 races in 1963. He won a total of 26 premier series races including eight of the 16 races he ran in 1964 and the 1965 Daytona 500. Fred retired in 1972 at the young age of 38 citing his desire to spend time with his family. Despite his relatively short career, Fred left an indelible mark on NASCAR and his legion of fans.
Among the most powerful and touching moments I have experienced while at the Hall of Fame is when Fred’s children, Chris and Amanda, escorted him and other family members through the NASCAR Hall of Fame and into the Hall of Honor to view his exhibit for the first time during our 2015 induction week. The fans assembled outside the Hall of Honor rose from their seats in unison to give Fred a standing ovation. Chris and Amanda were visibly touched. Having never seen their father race, they had never experienced the magnitude of his popularity. And when you consider this moment was more than 40 years removed from his career, the fans’ recognition for and appreciation of Fred clearly moved his children and those of us privileged to observe the reverence showed to Fred.
NASCAR has lost one of our earliest and most charismatic superstars and the NASCAR Hall of Fame team and I have lost a dear friend. Fred’s remarkable legacy and accomplishments in NASCAR will live in our minds, our hearts and the archives of the NASCAR Hall of Fame forever.”