Bill Huskins' NASCAR Competition License, 1948
by Daniel J. Simone, Ph.D. June 24, 2020
Now in his mid-90s, Mr. Huskins is possibly the only person alive to compete in NASCAR's inaugural 1948 season.
Photo by Kevin Larrabee.
Description:
Now in his mid-90s, William B. “Bill” Huskins is perhaps the only person still alive to have competed in NASCAR’s inaugural season in 1948. Originally hailing from Burnsville, North Carolina, he raced in a handful of NASCAR Modified National Championship events that year. However, in order to compete (as remains the case today) Huskins had to apply for a NASCAR competition license. NASCAR Hall of Famer William H. G. “Big Bill” France (2010) granted the license; Anne France, recipient of the 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR, provided the signature(s).
Significance:
Huskins and his family visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame and donated this competition license. We are honored and thrilled, for this is one of the oldest artifacts in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s permanent collection. The license appeared in the NHOF’s “1948: Proving Grounds” Exhibit, and Huskins and his family attended the exhibit opening in July 2018. The license currently appears in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s digital interactive “Vault” exhibit on Heritage Speedway.
Donor: Bill Huskins
Plan your visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and purchase tickets by visiting nascarhall.com/tickets.
Photo by Kevin Larrabee.
