Fred lorenzen biography
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by Dr. Mark D. Howell
Fred Lorenzen was the first Winston Cup driver to shatter the popular stereotype of stock car drivers as "good ol' boys" of native-born southern heritage. A handsome and articulate man from Elmhurst, Illinois, Lorenzen spent summer nights during his childhood camped under the stars listening to radio coverage of races like the Southern 500 and dreaming of the chance to drive against the legends who battled for glory at Darlington. Little did he know that one day he'd not only be driving against such big names in the sport, but that he'd be passing them on his way to victory lane.
Born on December 30, 1934, Lorenzen's first races were for bragging rights on local roads against area hotrodders in a 1952 Oldsmobile. His talent obvious, he entered NASCAR competition in 1956, making seven starts and a grand total of $250. This attempt was short-lived, however, and he moved over to drive USAC stock cars where he won championships in 1958 and 1959 before forming a
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NASCAR Hall Of Famer Fred Lorenzen Dies At 89
Fred Lorenzen was an 18-year-old, Elmhurst, Ill., resident when he got involved in stock car racing at Chicago’s Soldier Field in 1953.
Lorenzen, who went on to a star-studded career in NASCAR racing, died Wednesday at the age of 89.
The racing newcomer was among the top “amateur” drivers in action at the huge arena, known for being the site of everything from music concerts to the annual college All Star football game with auto racing being a big part of the stadium’s summer schedule year after year.
Born on Dec. 30, 1934, Lorenzen was the winner of an eight-lap “amateur” race at Soldier Field on Sept. 2, 1953 while a couple of his future Chicago area late model stock bil foes Tom Pistone and Gene Marmor were winners of twin 20-lap main events that night.
It seemed like it was only a few years before that Lorenzen was scooting around the streets of his hometown in a lawnmower engine-powered race fordon that he had built with the
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Fred Lorenzen
American racing driver (1934–2024)
| Fred Lorenzen | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Frederick Lorenzen Jr. (1934-12-30)December 30, 1934 Elmhurst, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | December 18, 2024(2024-12-18) (aged 89) Illinois, U.S.[1] | ||||||
| USAC Stock Car (1958, 1959) Major victories World 600 (1963, 1965) Daytona 500 (1965) | |||||||
| Years active | 1956–1959, 1964 | ||||||
| Championships | 2 | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st in 1958, 1959 | ||||||
NASCAR driver | |||||||
| 158 races run over 12 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 3rd (1963) | ||||||
| First race | 1956 Race 11 (Langhorne) | ||||||
| Last race | 1972Old Dominion 500 (Martinsville) | ||||||
| First win | 1961Virginia 500 (Martinsville) | ||||||
| Last win | 1967Daytona Qualifier #2 (Daytona) | ||||||
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Frederick Lorenzen Jr. (December 30, 1934 – December 18, 2024), nicknamed "the Golden Boy", "Fast Freddie", "the Elmhurst Express" and "Fearless Freddy", was an American NASCAR driver from Elmhurst, Illinois. Active from 1958 to 1972, he won 26 rac