NASCAR Racing Pioneer. Curtis Turner was one of the early pioneers of NASCAR Racing, Competing against such greats as Junior Johnson, Glenn "Fireball" Roberts, and Joe Weatherly. Born in Floyd County, Virginia, Curtis made his fortune in the timber and lumber business, and was famous for his hard living and hard driving. In 1960 he conceived and built a 1.5 mile speedway near Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte Motor Speedway was deep in debt when it opened and soon after holding its first race, Curtis and the other investors lost the track. Under new ownership the speedway prospered and is today one of the premier tracks on the NASCAR Circuit. Throughout his career he found himself at odds with NASCAR's Founder and President William H. G. "Big Bill" France. The final straw came in the early 1960's when Curtis attempted to organize a drivers union. Even though his efforts failed, Curtis was banned from any form of NASCAR Racing. In 1965 NASCAR lifted the ban and Curtis returned to NASCAR Racing in the American 400 at the North Carolina Motor Speedway, in Rockingham, North Carolina. Curtis showed that his hard driving style had not changed as he held off a young Cale Yarborough for his most lucrative victory. For the next few years Curtis was semi-retired, racing only when the price was right. He intended to race in the 1970 National 500 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, but on October 4, 1970, Curtis and golf professional Clarence King were killed in a plane crash near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
NASCAR Racing Pioneer. Curtis Turner was one of the early pioneers of NASCAR Racing, Competing against such greats as Junior Johnson, Glenn "Fireball" Roberts, and Joe Weatherly. Born in Floyd County, Virginia, Curtis made his fortune in the timber and lumber business, and was famous for his hard living and hard driving. In 1960 he conceived and built a 1.5 mile speedway near Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte Motor Speedway was deep in debt when it opened and soon after holding its first race, Curtis and the other investors lost the track. Under new ownership the speedway prospered and is today one of the premier tracks on the NASCAR Circuit. Throughout his career he found himself at odds with NASCAR's Founder and President William H. G. "Big Bill" France. The final straw came in the early 1960's when Curtis attempted to organize a drivers union. Even though his efforts failed, Curtis was banned from any form of NASCAR Racing. In 1965 NASCAR lifted the ban and Curtis returned to NASCAR Racing in the American 400 at the North Carolina Motor Speedway, in Rockingham, North Carolina. Curtis showed that his hard driving style had not changed as he held off a young Cale Yarborough for his most lucrative victory. For the next few years Curtis was semi-retired, racing only when the price was right. He intended to race in the 1970 National 500 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, but on October 4, 1970, Curtis and golf professional Clarence King were killed in a plane crash near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
Bio by: S.G. Thompson
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