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Herbert Watson Thomas

Herbert Watson Thomas was born on April 6, 1923. He was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series' most successful drivers in the 1950's. Herbert Watson Thomas was originally from the small town of Olivia, North Carolina, Thomas worked as a farmer at first and also worked in a sawmill in the 1940's before his interest turned to auto racing.

In 1949, Thomas took part in NASCAR's first Strictly Stock race, and made 4 starts in the series' first year. The following year, he made 13 appearances in the series, now known as the Grand National division, and scored his first career win at Martinsville Speedway in a self-owned Plymouth. Starting the 1951 season with moderate success in his Plymouth, he later switched to a Hudson Hornet. Thomas won the Southern 500 in what was famously dubbed "The Fabulous Hudson Hornet", which would be the first of 6 wins he would earn in two months. He was able to win the Grand National championship.

Thomas ended his career with 48 victories, which currently ranks 12th all-time. He won 21% of his starts during his career, which ranks as the highest win percentage all-time among drivers with 100 career starts. Thomas was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994, and was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

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