Glen 'Fireball' Roberts(1929-1964)
Glenn Roberts made a name for himself as a high school pitcher with a
blazing fastball, but he didn't truly shine until he charged through
the superspeedways. Though tagged with the nickname "Fireball", Roberts
went racing dirt tracks at the age of eighteen. Though his father
didn't approve of this, Glenn talked his mother to sign the release
form to race modified stock cars. Roberts raced the modifieds, until
the joined the famed Holman-Moody team in 1956. He raced to success,
and soon his winsome smile, and crewcut became the most reconized face
on the NASCAR circut. Sought after for endorsements that took him all
over the country. Affable, yet reserved, Roberts disliked his nickname,
to his friends he was just "Glenn". At the world 600 in 1964, he, Ned
Jarrett, and Junior Johnson crashed. Fireball's car landed on it's
roof, and flaming gasoline filled the cockpit. Ned pulled him out of
the car, and he was rushed to the hospital with burns over 80% of his
body. He died weeks later from his injuries.