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Fred Lorenzen, NASCAR Hall of Famer, dies at 89

Nick Profile Picby:Nick Geddes•12/18/24•

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Fred Lorenzen
Brady Klain/The Republic, Arizona Republic via Imagn Content Services, LLC

NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen passed away Wednesday, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France announced. He was 89.

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“Fred Lorenzen was one of NASCAR’s first true superstars,” France said in a statement, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “A fan favorite, he helped NASCAR expand from its original roots. Fred was the picture-perfect NASCAR star, helping to bring the sport to the silver screen. Which further grew NASCAR’s popularity during its early years.

“For many years, NASCAR’s “Golden Boy” was also its gold standard. A fact that eventually led him to the sport’s pinnacle, a rightful place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I want to offer our condolences to the friends and family of Fred Lorenzen.”

Fred Lorenzen’s incredible career remembered

Lorenzen, born in Elmhurst, Illinois, competed in NASCAR from 1956-1972. He won 26 races in 158 Grand National Series/Cup Series starts, placing him tied for 32nd all-time on the all-time wins list alongside Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Lorenzen was one of the sport’s top drivers from 1962-65, taking the checkered flag in the seventh running of the Daytona 500 in 1965. Lorenzen also compiled two victories in the World 600, now known as the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (1963, ’65). He never competed full-time, opting to prioritize big-money races. “Fearless Freddy” won $112,245 in 1963, making him the first NASCAR driver to win more than $100,000 in a single season.

Named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998, Lorenzen was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015. Lorenzen was immensely popular among race fans, winning Most Popular Driver honors in 1963 and ’65.

“The fans are what make you run,” Lorenzen said, via nascarhall.com. “They were my heroes. They make you go fast.”