GLENN “FIREBALL” ROBERTS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1929     
* Born January 20, 1929 in Tavares, Florida

1947   
* Entered 1st race N. Wilkesboro, NC, blew engine

1950   
* Won his 1st Grand National race at Hillsboro, N.C. in only 3rd start. Finished 2nd in points while only 21 years old.

1951   
* For next 5 years he dominated the modified tracks

1956   
* Joined the Ford factory team to win 5 Grand National races

1957   
* Won 8 races and finished 6th in the points championship

1958   
* In only 10 starts he recorded 6 wins & 9 top 10 results
* Voted Professional Athlete of the Year by Fla. Sports Writers

1961   
* Posted 2 victories and finished 5th in points championship

1962   
* First driver to win the Grand Slam in Daytona Beach.
*Winner of the pole position, the qualifying race and the Daytona 500
*Winner of the Firecracker 250
* First NASCAR driver to compete at the 24 Hours of LeMans, France,
posted a 6th overall finish
* Inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame
* First professional driver to win the Hickock Award


Dad & team in Daytona's Victory Lane

1963   
* Had 4 wins in 20 starts and finished 5th in points championship

1964   
* Died July 2, due to injuries from a crash at Charlotte
on May 24 in the World 600

1965   
* Inducted into the National Motorsports Hall of Fame

1990   
* Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame

1991   
* Inducted into the Jax Speedway Hall of Fame

1992   
* Inducted into the Oceanside Rotary Hall of Fame, Daytona Beach
* Inducted into the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame

2006    
* Inducted into the Augusta International Raceway  Preservation Society
Hall of Fame (AIRPS) in Augusta, GA
    * Street dedication of Glenn Roberts Drive, in the new housing development behind the old Augusta International Raceway

Replica of Fireball's 1957 Ford

Stats:

Overall Wins: 33
Overall Poles: 32
Total Laps Led: 5,970
Top 5's: 93
Top 10's: 122
Average Start: 7.5
Average Finish: 13.3
Races Entered: 207
Total Laps Raced: 37,230

Track Victories
Asheville-Weaverville Speedway (NC): 8/17/58
Atlanta Motor Speedway (GA): 7/31/60
Augusta International Raceway (GA): 11/17/63
Bristol Motor Speedway(TN): 3/31/63
Coastal Speedway (SC): 8/25/56
Concord Speedway (NC): 10/13/57
Darlington Raceway(SC): 9/4/58, 9/2/63,
Daytona International Speedway (FL): 7/4/59, 2/12/60, 2/24/61, 2/18/62, 7/4/62, 7/4/63
Fairgrounds Raceway (AL): 9/7/58
Langhorne Speedway (PA): 4/14/57
Marchbanks Speedway (CA): 3/12/61
Martinsville Speedway (VA): 10/12/58
Newberry Speedway (SC): 10/12/57
Newport Speedway (TN): 10/7/56, 6/15/57
North Wilkesboro Speedway (NC): 4/7/57
Occoneechee Speedway (NC): 8/13/50, 9/30/56
Old Bridge Stadium (NJ): 7/19/63
Raleigh Speedway (NC): 7/4/56, 7/4/58
Soldier Field (IL): 7/21/56
Southern States Fairgrounds (NC): 4/19/57
Titusville-Cocoa Speedway (FL): 12/30/56
Trenton Speedway (NJ): 5/30/58

Statistics from Racing-Reference

All photographs are property of Fireball Roberts Inc. and are not to be duplicated or used without the permission of Fireball Roberts Inc. or www.fireball22.com.