Herb Thomas
Driver
Herbert Watson Thomas was a stock car racer who was one of NASCAR's most successful drivers in the 1950s.
Herb Thomas was the inspiration for the character "Doc Hudson" in the movie Cars.
Subject ID: 34386
MoreHerbert Watson Thomas was a stock car racer who was one of NASCAR's most successful drivers in the 1950s.
Herb Thomas was the inspiration for the character "Doc Hudson" in the movie Cars.
In 1949, Thomas took part in NASCAR's first Strictly Stock (the forerunner to the Grand National and ultimately the modern Sprint Cup) race, and made four starts in the series' first year. The following year, he made thirteen appearances in the series, now renamed the Grand National division. He scored his first career win at Martinsville Speedway in a privateer Plymouth.
He started the 1951 season with moderate success in his Plymouth before switching to a Hudson Hornet, at the suggestion of fellow driver Marshall Teague. Thomas won the Southern 500 rather handily in what was famously dubbed "The Fabulous Hudson Hornet", which would be the first of six wins in a two-month span. His late charge helped him narrowly defeat Fonty Flock to win the Grand National championship.
Subject ID: 34386
Subject ID: 34386
