Glen (Fireball) Roberts was born in Tavares, Florida in January 1929. His family later relocated to Apopka, Florida. It was assumed by many that he got his nickname from his racing days. Not so. He got it when he was a pitcher for the Zellwood Mudhens in Apopka. He really didn’t like it and preferred to be called Glen. Other drivers simply called him “Balls” But only when he couldn’t hear them.

He started racing on dirt tracks at the age of 17 in Florida. In 1945 he was racing in the NASCAR Modified Series and part time in the Grand National Series. In 1948 he won the first sanctioned modified NASCAR race. In 1950 he won his first Grand National Race at Hillsboro. He was the first driver to sweep both of the Daytona races in 1962.

After a crash at Charlotte he made the comment “ The thing I fear the most is fire.) Maybe this was a premonition of things to come. A year later at Charlotte he was involved in a crash with Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson on the seventh lap. He hit the inside retaining wall, flipped and his car burst into flames. He received second and third degree burn over 80% of his body. He survived 37 days before he succumbed to pneumonia. His death was a blow to the world of racing. Nobody will ever know how successful he might have been. When he left he was vastly popular and very successful.

One his favorite quotes. (Understeer is hitting the wall with the front of the car. Oversteer is hitting it with the rear…..)

He was inducted into the Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame in 1965. 

Stats:

Starts: 206

Wins:33

Poles: 35

Major Races:

Rebel 300 1957 & 1959

Southern 500 1958 & 1963

Dixie 500 1960

Set over 400 records at different venues of racing.