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 Charles
"Red" Farmer has, for a long time, been referred to by his many
friends in the media as "ageless". And with good reason. He won't tell
anyone what his true age really is, and he came real close to being the only
driver in history to win NASCAR Championships in four different decades.
The personable Farmer, who believes he has won more than 900 features in his long and successful career, may have revealed his birthday when he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. His wife, Joan, told Hall of Fame officials that Red's birthday was October 15, 1932. "Of course, she may have lied to them," said Farmer, with a twinkle in his eye. The main reason for Farmer's "ageless" designation, however, is his incredible success over 40 years. He won the NASCAR Modified Division title in 1956, then came back to win three consecutive Late Model Sportsman championships in 1969, 70, and 71. He was in the hunt for the NASCAR Winston Racing Series Southeast Region championship until the very end. Farmer has raced in virtually every series, not to mention on just about every track, in the southeastern United States. And he's won on the vast majority of them. Red started racing in 1949, and hasn't looked back since. He still races on area dirt tracks such as Talladega Short Track, and also serves as crew chief for the Busch Series team that has Derrike Cope as its driver. He worked in the same capacity for Davey Allison. Farmer has seen thousands of "young lions" come and go. They don't bother him at all. At one time, Red had a sign on the side of his car that stated; "Old Age and Treachery Will Outrun Youth and Skill". "I'll drive as long as the youngsters don't say "I wish that old man would get off of the track and out of our way," noted Farmer. "And I probably wouldn't quit then. I'd make them run over me." Two of Farmer's biggest moments came at his "home" track of Talladega Superspeedway. He was fourth in the 1972 Talladega 500, his highest Winston Cup finish. Red won the 1984 ARCA 200 with Davey Allison serving as his crew chief. "I've always wanted to win at Talladega before I retire, so you better believe this is something special to me" said Farmer after that victory. Red Farmer, A Member Of The Alabama Gang...and the first Class of Inductees into the Talladega-Texaco Walk Of Fame. 1998 "Active Category" Inductee into the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame.
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