Marshall Teague was one of NASCAR racing's pioneers and is also one of its first stars. Born on the 22nd February 1922 in Daytona Beach, Florida he was to make his mark in stock car racing for his performances on the Daytona Beach Road Course that earned him the nickname of "King of the Beach". Although his NASCAR career was short, from 1949 to 1954, he had his best career year in 1951 when he had victories including the first NASCAR race to be held at Carrel Speedway in California.

Winner Marshall Teague beside the Fabulous Hudson Hornet with his daughter at the Daytona Beach Road Course in 1952 (Wiki Commons)

The following year he won again at Daytona Beach Road when the race was shortened due to the incoming tide. Marshall was looking for sponsorship and a car to drive so he went to Michigan and directly approached the Hudson Motor Car Company and fortunately, after an unscheduled interview he was assured of both corporate support and cars. This agreement was formalised shortly after the meeting and during the 1952 and 1953 seasons Marshal was a member of the Hudson Motor team and driving what he described as the "Fabulous Hudson Hornet".

In just twenty three career starts he earned two pole positions and seven victories in his "Fabulous Hudson Hornet". During his time with Hudson Marshall played a significant part in developing the Hudson Hornet to function at its full stock car potential. The car was light weight with a low centre of gravity allowing Marshall and other team drivers to dominate the majority of the races he took part in.

Together with his mechanic friend, Smokey Yunick who owned the "Best Damned Garage in Town" they won twenty seven of the thirty four major stock car events that they entered. Unfortunately, following a difference of opinion with Bill France Sr., founder of NASCAR, Marshall left the NASCAR Series to race in United States Auto Series and the AAA Series. Later they settled the argument and Marshall tested tyres at the new Daytona International Speedway.

On February 10th 1959 Marshall was testing a reconfigured Indy car at the newly opened Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the April debut of the United States Auto Club championship with the Indy-style roadsters; he was also attempting to set a closed course speed record in the "Sumar Special". He set an unofficial record of 171.821 mph (276.5 Km/h). The following day, on February 11th, he was attempting to go even faster and pushed the car to an estimated 140 mph (230 km/h) when suddenly the car flipped through the third turn and Marshall was thrown from the car, tragically killing him instantly. He was thirty six years old. He was posthumously inducted into the National Motor Sports Press Association Hall of Fame in 1968, the National Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1988, TRS/NASCAR Mechanics Hall of Fame in 1989, the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 1991 and was named as one of NASCAR’s Greatest Drivers in 1998. During his time as a stock car racer he was truly one of the best.

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NASCAR.com
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