Robert "Red" Byron

NASCAR Winston Cup Career: 1949-51

Although Byron only competed in three NASCAR Winston Cup Series seasons, he had the honor of winning the first NASCAR-sanctioned race in 1948 and was the first NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion, in 1949. That same year, Byron won the first NASCAR race at Daytona, a 40-lap race held on the 4.15-mile beach/road course. In 1966, Byron was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.