JIMMY PARDUE 10/26/1930 - 09/252/1964
was a former race car driver who lived in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He made his debut in 1955 at Martinsville, where he finished 28th after suffering hub problems in his Chevrolet Bel Air vehicle. He made his first full-time attempt in 1960 where he had eleven top-tens. In 1963, he won his first race at Richmond, followed up by another win the following year at Dog Track Speedway. Pardue's car number was 54. A part of his career was during the same time that the popular television show, "Car 54, Where Are You" was running on network television. On the door of his car, he added a small "Car" above the number, and "Here I Am" below it. In 1964, he was doing a tire test for Goodyear at Charlotte Motor Speedway, when a tire blew and caused him to lose control. The car went through the guardrail in turns
three and four and came to rest outside the track. The 33-year-old Pardue did not survive the wreck. Doing about 140mph the car tore down 30 feet of steel guard rail; catapulted into the air and came down atop a steel wire fence. From there it traveled down a 75 foot embankment and came to rest about 200 feet away upside down in a drainage ditch. He was taken to nearby Cabarrus Memorial Hospital where a doctor stated he died from "massive head and internal injuries". This was the second death to occur at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1964; as Fireball Roberts had received serious burns and died from a crash in the World 600. Despite his season being cut short, he still finished 5th in points. For his career Pardue competed in 217 Cup races garnering two wins. Some info from Wikipedia
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