Bill Blair (racing driver) facts for kids

Bill Blair (born July 14, 1911, in High Point, North Carolina, USA – died November 2, 1995) was an American stock car racing driver. He raced in the 1940s and 1950s. Bill Blair was one of the early pioneers of NASCAR, a very famous racing organization.

Bill Blair: A NASCAR Pioneer

Bill Blair was an important figure in the early days of NASCAR. He helped shape the sport into what it is today. He competed in the NASCAR Strictly Stock and Grand National Series. These were the top racing series at the time. Blair raced for ten years in the Cup Series. He finished 54 races in the top ten.

Early Racing Victories

Bill Blair won three major NASCAR races during his career. Each win showed his skill as a driver. He drove different cars to victory lane.

• June 18, 1950: Bill Blair won a race at Vernon Fairgrounds in Vernon, New York. He was driving a 1950 Mercury car. The car was owned by Sam Rice. This was his first big win.
• April 20, 1952: Blair earned his second victory at Lakewood Speedway in Atlanta. He drove a 1952 Oldsmobile. This car was owned by George Hutchens.
• February 15, 1953: His final series win happened at the Daytona Beach Road Course in Daytona Beach, Florida. He drove his own 1953 Oldsmobile to victory. This was a challenging course.

Remembering Bill Blair

Bill Blair's story is remembered in different ways. He was an important part of racing history. His life and career have been shared through books and movies.

Blair, along with fellow drivers Jimmie Lewallen and Fred Harb, is featured in an independent movie. The movie is called Red Dirt Rising. It tells the story of these early racing heroes. The film is based on a book. The book is titled "Red Dirt Tracks: The Forgotten Heroes of Early Stockcar Racing." It was written by Gail Cauble Gurley.