Herbert Watson Thomas (April 6, 1923–August 9, 2000) was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series' most successful drivers in the 1950's. April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States. ...

Born in the small town of Olivia, North Carolina, Thomas originally worked as a farmer and also worked in a sawmill in the 1940's before his interest turned to auto racing. In 1949, Thomas took part in NASCAR's first Strictly Stock (the forerunner to the modern Nextel Cup) race, and made 4 starts in the series' first year. The following year, he made 13 appearances in the series, now renamed the Grand National division, and scored his first career win at Martinsville Speedway in a self-owned Plymouth. NASCAR Nextel Cup logo NEXTEL Cup trophy, adopted in 2004 4-time champion Jeff Gordon poses with the Winston Cup trophy (used prior to 2004) The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series is NASCARs top racing series. ... Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Martinsville, Virginia. ... Plymouth was a brand of automobile based in the United States, marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 2001. ...

He started the 1951 season with moderate success in his Plymouth (plus one win in an Oldsmobile) before switching to a Hudson Hornet, at the suggestion of fellow driver Marshall Teague. Thomas won the Southern 500 rather handily in what was famously dubbed "The Fabulous Hudson Hornet", which would be the first of 6 wins he would earn in a two month span. His late charge helped him narrowly defeat Fonty Flock to win the Grand National championship. With help from crew chief Smokey Yunick, Thomas subsequently became the first owner/driver to take the championship in the process. The final Oldsmobile Logo, an update of the Rocket theme used in various forms since 1948, debuted in the mid-1990s until the final Olds rolled off the line in 2004. ... Hudson Six-40, 1914 1937 Hudson Custom Eight 1950 Hudson The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1957. ... Marshall Teague (February 17, 1922 - February 11, 1959) was an American race car driver. ... The Mountain Dew Southern 500 is a 500 mile (805 km) NASCAR Nextel Cup race. ... Henry Smokey Yunick (born May 25, 1923, somewhere around Maryville, Tennessee, died May 9, 2001 of leukemia) was a mechanic and car designer associated with motorsports in the United States. ...

In 1952, Thomas and his Hornet were involved in a close championship race with another Flock, Fonty's younger brother Tim. The two drivers won 8 races in their respective Hudsons, but Flock came out on top at the end, in spite of another late season charge from Thomas. Tim Flock was one of NASCARs early pioneers. ...

He returned with a vengeance in 1953 and dominated the entire season, winning a series best 12 races en route to becoming the first two-time series champion. Thomas won 12 races again in 1954, including a second Southern 500 win, but he was beaten by a more consistent Lee Petty in the championship standings. Lee Petty (left) pictured with (to his right, left to right) his son Richard, grandson Kyle, and great-grandson Adam, in 2000 before his death. ...

After 4 years of success in a Hudson, Thomas began driving Chevrolets and Buicks in races in 1955. He crashed heavily behind the wheel of a Buick at a race in Charlotte, forcing him to miss 6 months of the season. He returned to score his third Southern 500 win in his Motoramic Chevy, one of three wins he would earn during the season. He finished 5th in the championship on the strength of his win at Darlington Raceway. Chevrolet, or Chevy for short, is a brand of automobile, now a division of General Motors. ... Buick is a brand of automobile built in the United States, Canada, and China by General Motors Corporation. ... County Mecklenburg Mayor Pat McCrory, (R) Area  - Total  - Water 629. ... Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. ...

In 1956, Thomas briefly abandoned being an owner/driver and, after winning a race for himself early in the season, he won races with two other owners. He won a race in a Smokey Yunick-owned car, after which the two broke ties with each other, and then won three consecutive races while driving for Carl Kiekhaefer, who was dominating NASCAR at the time with his super-team. Thomas eventually returned to being an owner/driver at season's end, and had clinched second behind Petty in the championship when he was severely injured at a race in Shelby, North Carolina. The race effectively ended his NASCAR career, though he did start 2 races in 1957 and 1 in 1962 without success. Shelby is a city located in Cleveland County, North Carolina. ...

Thomas ended his career with 48 victories, which currently ranks 12th all-time. He won 21% of his starts during his career, which ranks as the highest win percentage all-time among drivers with 100 career starts.

Herb's younger brother Donald made 79 starts in the Grand National division between 1950 and 1956, winning a race at Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway in 1952. Until 2005, Donald was the youngest driver to ever win a race in series history. Nickname: The Horizon City, Hotlanta, The Big Peach Motto: Official website: http://www. ...

Thomas was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994, and was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. On August 9, 2000, Herb Thomas suffered heart attack and died at the age of 77 in Sanford, North Carolina. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to auto racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer. ... NASCARs 50 Greatest Drivers is a list of NASCAR drivers. ... August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Sanford is a city located in Lee County, North Carolina. ...

Related Links/Sources

• Stats from Racing-Reference
• Article on Thomas' passing