Friday Hassler

Raymond Hassler
Friday Hassler in his racing vehicle (circa 1960s)
Born (1935-07-29)July 29, 1935
Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
Died February 17, 1972(1972-02-17) (aged 36)
Daytona Beach, Florida. United States
Cause of death racing crash
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career
135 races run over 10 years
Best finish 16th - 1971 Winston Cup Series season
First race 1960 National 400 (Charlotte)
Last race 1972 Daytona 500 Did not qualify
First win None as starter (was relief driver for Charlie Glotzbach in 1971 Volunteer 500; Glotzbach won)
Wins Top tens Poles
0* 48 2

Raymond "Friday" Hassler (July 29, 1935 – February 17, 1972) was a NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver.[1]

Career

Hassler made his debut in 1960 but only drove a handful of races per year until 1967 when he drove 21 of the 49 races for Red Sharp and finished 32nd in points. He improved to 27th for Sharp the next year and drove his own car in 1969 to a 28th-place finish. In a late model car at the end of the year, he scored a win in the second annual Snowball Derby, now regarded as one of short track racing's most prestigious races. In 1970 he drove for James Hanley and finished 20th in points. His best season was 1971, when he drove his own car to 13 top ten finishes and a 16th place points result.

At the 1971 Volunteer 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, Hassler was a relief driver for race winner Charlie Glotzbach.[2] It was not an official win for Hassler, and it is one of only three instances when two drivers drove the winning car in a NASCAR premier series race.

Hassler died[3] in a crash during the first Daytona 500 qualifying race in 1972 at the age of 36 and at the peak of his career. The accident happened on lap 19. It was started when the car of David Ray Boggs cut a tire.

Hassler is prominently featured in the 1975 book The World's Number One, Flat-Out, All-Time Great Stock Car Racing Book by Jerry Bledsoe. His son Jay lives in the Hixson, Tennessee area, owning an equipment rental firm. He has run an occasional super late model race at Five Flags Speedway where his father won the Snowball.

References

  1. ↑ "Racing information for Friday Hassler". Racing Reference. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  2. ↑ "Glotzbach wins 500 at Bristol". Google News. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  3. ↑ "Isaac, Allison capture wins in 125-mile races". Google News. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
Achievements
Preceded by
Wayne Niedecken, Sr.		 Snowball Derby Winner
1969		 Succeeded by
Wayne Niedecken, Sr.
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