NASCAR Hall of Fame Statement on the Passing of Fred Lorenzen
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (DEC. 18, 2024) - Statement from NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley on the passing of Fred Lorenzen.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame team joins the racing community in mourning the passing of Fred Lorenzen, a legend whose impact will forever be felt in the sport.
“First and foremost, on behalf of the NASCAR Hall of Fame team, I want to offer our most sincere condolences to Fred’s son Chris, daughter Amanda and the entire Lorenzen family on the passing of Fred Lorenzen.
Fred’s nicknames personify him as well as anyone. “Fast Freddie” or “Fearless Freddie” described his penchant for driving fast and on the largest of NASCAR tracks. “The Golden Boy” was a nod to his Hollywood good looks. That combination made him one of the most successful and recognizable stars of NASCAR in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. His leading-man good looks and smooth driving earned him legions of fans and brought a new style and class to the sport.
Although he never competed in a full season, Fred became the first driver to earn $100,000 in a single season after competing in just 29 of the 55 races in 1963. He won a total of 26 premier series races including eight of the 16 races he ran in 1964 and the 1965 Daytona 500. Fred retired in 1972 at the young age of 38 citing his desire to spend time with his family. Despite his relatively short career, Fred left an indelible mark on NASCAR and his legion of fans.
Among the most powerful and touching moments I have experienced while at the Hall of Fame is when Fred’s children, Chris and Amanda, escorted him and other family members through the NASCAR Hall of Fame and into the Hall of Honor to view his exhibit for the first time during our 2015 induction week. The fans assembled outside the Hall of Honor rose from their seats in unison to give Fred a standing ovation. Chris and Amanda were visibly touched. Having never seen their father race, they had never experienced the magnitude of his popularity. And when you consider this moment was more than 40 years removed from his career, the fans’ recognition for and appreciation of Fred clearly moved his children and those of us privileged to observe the reverence showed to Fred.
NASCAR has lost one of our earliest and most charismatic superstars and the NASCAR Hall of Fame team and I have lost a dear friend. Fred’s remarkable legacy and accomplishments in NASCAR will live in our minds, our hearts and the archives of the NASCAR Hall of Fame forever."
About the NASCAR Hall of Fame:
Conveniently located in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, opened May 11, 2010, and includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop and NASCAR Productions-operated broadcast studio. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for summer hours and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for winter hours. On designated Group Hot Pass Tuesdays, the facility is open for scheduled group visits and events only. An attached parking garage is available on Brevard Street. The 5-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000-square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. For more information, visit nascarhall.com.
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