Curtis Turner

Birthdate: April 12, 1924 (died October 4, 1970)

Hometown: Roanoke, Va.Competed: 1949-68

Starts: 183

Wins: 17

Poles: 16

Called by some the “Babe Ruth of stock car racing,” Curtis Turner was among the fastest and most colorful competitors in the early years of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing. Turner posted his first of 17 career victories in only his sixth start on Sept. 11, 1949, at Langhorne, Pa.

Although many of Turner’s victories came on short tracks and dirt ovals – much of his career pre-dated NASCAR’s superspeedway era – he won the 1956 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and the first American 500 at Rockingham in 1965. He also won 22 races in NASCAR’s convertible division in 1956.

Turner competed in NASCAR’s first race in 1949 in Charlotte and was the only driver to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup race in a Nash. He remains the only series driver to win two consecutive races from the pole leading every lap. Turner drove for many legendary NASCAR owners including the Wood Brothers, Junior Johnson, Smokey Yunick and Holman-Moody.

Turner was named one of NASCAR’s “50 Greatest Drivers” in 1998.