Alfred Speedy Thompson was one of the most popular and successful drivers of NASCAR's early days. This was a time when there were 40+ races annually and the majority of the events were raced on dirt tracks in Raleigh, Columbia, Montgomery, Langhorne, and the beach course in Daytona, Florida. Speedy, from Monroe, NC, was the son of a former driver and the brother of a racer who competed mostly in the convertible series of NASCAR. Speedy won 20 Grand National races and placed in the top 5 and 10 of many others during a career that spanned 1948-1962. Thompson drove mostly for Chrysler and Chevrolet, teaming with 3-time NASCAR champ Buck Baker as a Chevy factory driver until the General Motors' make quit manufacturing cars for the sport. After this Thompson and Baker took control of the factory cars and did nicely managing them on their own.