Buren Skeen 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 Denton

Denton, North Carolina

Denton is a town in Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,450 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Denton is located at .The highest elevation In Davidson county...

, North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

.

Career

He competed in eight Grand National Series events in his career, earning three finishes in the top ten.

All of those races came in 1965

1965 in NASCAR

1965 in NASCAR was a year that contained many changes. Due to the increasing speeds of the cars, and the concerns for safety, NASCAR outlawed the Chrysler hemi engine. Chrysler responded by withdrawing their support, and drivers like Richard Petty, David Pearson, Paul Goldsmith, Bobby Isaac were...

, when Skeen finished 60th in points. His debut went miserably, finishing 30th at North Wilkesboro

North Wilkesboro Speedway

North Wilkesboro Speedway was a short track that held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996...

 after transmission woes. But then Skeen improved over the next two races, finishing 9th at Martinsville

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 then a career-best 5th at Bowman Gray Stadium

Bowman Gray Stadium

Bowman Gray Stadium is a NASCAR sanctioned 1/4-mile asphalt flat oval short track and football stadium located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is one of stock car racing's most legendary venues, and is referred to as "NASCAR's longest-running weekly race track"...

 in Winston-Salem. Skeen would add a 7th place finish in another race later in the year at Bowman Gray. However, four DNFs in five races were capped when Skeen was killed in the 1965 Southern 500

1965 Southern 500

The 1965 Southern 500 was a NASCAR Grand National race that took place on September 6, 1965 at Darlington Raceway in the American community of Darlington, South Carolina.-Summary:...

 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"...

. His car spun, and was hit on the driver's side, fatally. An iconic video shows the car being towed away, bent nearly in half.