By John Schutt
NASCAR legend, Fred Lorenzen, died last week, near where he grew up in Elmhurst, Ill. at age 89.
Fred was the only stock car driver who won The USAC season Championship and the NASCAR Season Championship.
Fred was also a local Champion many times racing at Ohare Stadium Near Ohare Airport on Manheim Avenie in Schiller Park. Fred was most famous for winning the Daytona 500 in 1965. I know that personally because I sitting in Seat 28 and was a guest of his and his brother Rick. No. 28 was Fred’s long time Car number in NASCAR!
After winning The USAC Championship he was discovered by factory race car team, Holman & Moody in Charlotte N.C.. He then earned the nicknames “GoldenBoy” and “Fearless Freddy.”
Fred helped me by getting parts for my Ford drag car and hooking me up with another stock car local, Bobby Worwack, from Villa Park.
Fred was the first Driver to win $100,00 in one year. Fans around The county will miss Fred and his devotion to racing.
It was a little more than a month ago when fellow NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Allison died.