Bill Snowden was a NASCAR

NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...

 driver from St. Augustine

St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...

, Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

, USA

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. He was one of the racers whose career was interrupted by World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. He was nicknamed "Wild Bill" and the "Florida Hurricane".

Snowden competed on various circuits before NASCAR was organize, and he had second place finishes at the Daytona Beach Road Course

Daytona Beach Road Course

Daytona Beach Road Course was a race track that was instrumental in the formation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR. It originally became famous as the location where fifteen world land speed records were set...

 in 1941 and 1948. He competed in NASCAR's Strictly Stock/Grand National Series (now Sprint Cup Series) races between the series' inception in 1949 and 1952. He had 15 Top 10 and 5 Top 5 finishes in those 24 races.

NASCAR career

In the series' first year in 1949, he competed in four of the eight events, with three Top 10s and a season-best fifth place finish at Occoneechee Speedway

Occoneechee Speedway

Occoneechee Speedway was one of the first two NASCAR tracks to open. It closed in 1968 and is the only dirt track remaining from the inaugural 1949 season.It is located just outside the town of Hillsborough, North Carolina.-Site history:...

 at Hillsboro, North Carolina. Snowden finished 11th in the season points.

Snowden competed in four events in the next season, finishing 40th in season points with 2 Top 10s. His season-best fifth place finish happened at Charlotte Speedway

Charlotte Speedway

For the current NASCAR track in Charlotte, North Carolina, see Charlotte Motor Speedway.Charlotte Speedway was the site of NASCAR's first Strictly Stock series race on June 19, 1949. The Daytona Beach Road Course held the first race sanctioned by NASCAR in 1948...

.

Snowden had a career-best ninth place season points finish in 1951. In 21 starts, he had 9 Top 10 finishes with two career-best fourth place finishes at Martinsville Speedway

Martinsville Speedway

Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...

 and Speedway Park in Jacksonville.

1952 was Snowden's final season in Grand National. He competed in four events, with one Top 10 with his sixth place finish at Hayloft Speedway in Augusta, Georgia

Augusta, Georgia

Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...

. Fireball Roberts

Fireball Roberts

Edward Glenn Roberts, Jr. , nicknamed "Fireball", was one of the pioneering race car drivers of NASCAR.-Background:...

 raced one event in Snowden's car that season, and Banjo Matthews

Banjo Matthews

Edwin Keith "Banjo" Matthews was a NASCAR driver, car owner and builder.-Driver:...

 used Snowden's car in three events with one fifth place finish at Darlington Raceway

Darlington Raceway

Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...

.

Snowden died in 1957. In 1992, he was inducted in the Jacksonville Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame.