'Fast Freddie' Lorenzen was just a couple weeks shy of his 90th birthday when he passed away on Wednesday. The Elmhurst, Illinois native was an early star of the sport of NASCAR, competing from 1956 to 1972. He had many nicknames including 'Golden Boy,' 'Fearless Freddie,' the 'Elmhurst Express' and was beloved by fans. Lorenzen was a two-time recipient of the sport's Most Popular Driver award. His family broke the news of his passing on Facebook, praising him for his humility and authenticity.
“Fred Lorenzen was one of NASCAR’s first true superstars," said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France in a statement from the sanctioning body. "A fan favorite, he helped NASCAR expand from its original roots. Fred was the picture-perfect NASCAR star, helping to bring the sport to the silver screen – which further grew NASCAR’s popularity during its early years. For many years, NASCAR’s “Golden Boy” was also its gold standard, a fact that eventually led him to the sport’s pinnacle, a rightful place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I want to offer our condolences to the friends and family of Fred Lorenzen."
