Fritz Wilson, 78, first Daytona 500 leader, dies
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Fritz Wilson, who was inducted into the Colorado Motorsports Hall of
Fame in 2004, died Tuesday at his Loveland home after a short battle
with cancer. He was 78.
Wilson began his career racing motorcycles when he was a teenager and
graduated to stock cars in 1947. He won the first stock car race he
entered that season. He went on to win several Modified and Late Model
championships at Colorado National, Englewood and Lakeside speedways
and competed at tracks across the country.
Wilson took part in the Grand National Series, now NASCAR, for three
seasons (1959, 1960 and 1965). He never won a race in the series but
earned three top-five and four top-10 finishes.
Yet Wilson is remembered fondly for accomplishing a particular feat in
the series in 1959. After qualifying in the No. 3 position, he was the
first driver to lead the Daytona 500 in its inaugural race.
However, the 500, the third event of 44 on the series that year,
wasn't a successful venture for Wilson. He was forced to retire on the
15th lap because of a blown piston and finished 56th in the 59-car
field. He earned $100, while the winner, Lee Petty, collected
$19,050.
Wilson's car in that event, a 1959 Ford Thunderbird, was placed in the
Daytona 500 Museum.
Wilson also competed in the International Pikes Peak Hill Climb. In
1965, he finished second in the Open Wheel Division to Parnelli
Jones.
"Fritz was one of the best drivers to come out of Colorado," said
Jerry Van Dyke, the president of the Colorado Motorsports Hall of
Fame. "He was one of those drivers, had he had the money and the
sponsorship to get a ride (Grand National Series, now NASCAR), he
would have done very well. He was very talented and very friendly to
everyone."
Wilson also won the Sahara Late Model Open in 1975 in Las Vegas, one
of the biggest national wins of his career.
Wilson also was cited as one of the drivers who helped pioneer the
tactic of drafting in stock car racing. He retired in the late 1980s.
Wilson's brother, Donnie, was an outstanding driver, and they competed
regularly against each other. He also is the brother-in-law of Hall of
Famer Randy Roberts.
Wilson is survived by his wife, Cindy, son Scott and daughter Cindy,
grandchildren Nathan and Jennie and numerous nieces and nephews.
Wilson was cremated. A rosary and memorial service are pending.
By Scott Stocker, Rocky Mountain News
May 3, 2007