Speedy Thompson

Infobox NASCAR driver
Name = Alfred "Speedy" Thompson
Birthdate = birth date|1926|4|3
Died = death date and age|1972|4|2|1926|4|3
Birthplace = flagicon|USA Monroe, North Carolina
Cause of Death = Heart attack resulting in racing crash
Best_Cup_Pos = 3rd - 1951, 1957, 1958, 1959 (Grand National)
Cup_Wins = 20
Cup_Top_Tens = 106
Cup_Poles = 19
First_Cup_Race = 1950 Vernon Fairgrounds race
First_Cup_Win = 1953 Central City Speedway race
Last_Cup_Win = 1960 Capital City 200 (Richmond)
Last_Cup_Race = 1971 World 600 (Charlotte)
Awards = Inducted in the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame and Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame
Years_In_Cup = 14
Total_Cup_Races = 198

Alfred "Speedy" Thompson (born April 3, 1926 in Monroe, North Carolina – died April 2, 1972 in Charlotte, North Carolina) was a NASCAR pioneer and driver in the Grand National [now Sprint Cup] series from 1950 to 1971, capturing 20 wins along the way.

Racing career

He made his debut in 1950 and won two of the seven races he competed in 1953 in the #46 Buckshot Morris Oldsmobile. Thompson made 15 starts in 1955 and made a serious attack on the Championship the next year, competing in 42 races in Carl Kiekhaefer's factory-backed Chryslers and Dodges, winning eight times and finishing third in points. 1957 saw a switch to Hugh Babb's and his own Chevrolets and another third place result, only capturing two victories that year. Speedy drove his own Chevy for the entire 1958 season, and another third place was the reward for his four victories in 38 starts. Another third place in points came in 1959 from 29 starts in a variety of different cars, this time with no wins. 1959 would be his last full-time effort in the series and he left Grand National after the 1962 season, choosing to race at late models at local North Carolina short tracks. He returned to NASCAR's top series, then called Winston Cup, in 1971 for the World 600 where he finished 16th.

Death

During a late model race on April 2, 1972 at Metrolina Fairgrounds in Charlotte, where he started the race despite reporting he was not feeling well, Thompson suffered a suspected heart attack during the race and crashed his car, breaking his neck as well. He died on the way to the hospital, one day before his 46th birthday.

Awards

He was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame and the Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame.

References

* [http://insiderracingnews.com/AM/072706.html Racer Profile: Speedy Thompson] at InsiderRacingNews.com
* [http://www.racing-reference.info/driver?id=thompsp01 Thompson's NASCAR stats at Racing-Reference.info]