Gordon Lee "Don" Williams, Jr. (May 14, 1947 - May 21, 1989) was an American stock car driver born in Madison, Florida. He competed in the Sportsman 300 race at Daytona International Speedway on February 17, 1979, a Late Model Sportsman Division (now Xfinity Series) race sanctioned by NASCAR. Williams was injured in a fiery multiple-car crash,[1] and lived in a semicomatose state for ten years before his death.[2][3]
Don Williams
Born
Gordon Lee Williams, Jr. (1947-05-14)May 14, 1947 Madison, Florida, U.S.
Died
May 21, 1989(1989-05-21) (aged 42) Perry, Florida, U.S.
Don Williams was competing in the Late Model Sportsman race, the Permatex 300, at Daytona on February 17, 1979. The crash began when a car driven by Freddie Smith went into a spin and was struck by a car driven by Joe Frasson, which then burst into flames as he hit the wall. Frasson was then struck at full speed by Delma Cowart. Williams was behind Cowart and tried to avoid the pileup. His #68 Chevrolet Chevelle crashed into the wall and spun onto the infield amid a shower of flying debris. Williams suffered head and chest injuries as well as a fractured right arm and an aneurysm in the right eye.[4]
^The Valdosta Daily Times. April 16, 1979. Hagood, Mike. "Madison driver remains in the Daytona hospital."
External links
Hinton, Ed (March 19, 1989). "Driver's Dream Becomes His Family's Nightmare". Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
Willoughby, John (December 7, 2017). "A NASCAR Driver from Madison?". Greene Publishing, Inc. Madison County, FL. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
"Don Williams: A Tragic Unknown". Racing-Reference.info. August 18, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
February 21, 2023
williams, racing, driver, gordon, williams, 1947, 1989, american, stock, driver, born, madison, florida, competed, sportsman, race, daytona, international, speedway, february, 1979, late, model, sportsman, division, xfinity, series, race, sanctioned, nascar, w. Gordon Lee Don Williams Jr May 14 1947 May 21 1989 was an American stock car driver born in Madison Florida He competed in the Sportsman 300 race at Daytona International Speedway on February 17 1979 a Late Model Sportsman Division now Xfinity Series race sanctioned by NASCAR Williams was injured in a fiery multiple car crash 1 and lived in a semicomatose state for ten years before his death 2 3 Don WilliamsBornGordon Lee Williams Jr 1947 05 14 May 14 1947Madison Florida U S DiedMay 21 1989 1989 05 21 aged 42 Perry Florida U S Cause of deathHead injuries from racing accident Contents 1 Crash 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksCrash EditDon Williams was competing in the Late Model Sportsman race the Permatex 300 at Daytona on February 17 1979 The crash began when a car driven by Freddie Smith went into a spin and was struck by a car driven by Joe Frasson which then burst into flames as he hit the wall Frasson was then struck at full speed by Delma Cowart Williams was behind Cowart and tried to avoid the pileup His 68 Chevrolet Chevelle crashed into the wall and spun onto the infield amid a shower of flying debris Williams suffered head and chest injuries as well as a fractured right arm and an aneurysm in the right eye 4 See also EditList of Daytona International Speedway fatalities List of NASCAR fatal accidents Driver deaths in motorsportReferences Edit Waltrip takes first in rain shortened race Rome News Tribune United Press International February 18 1979 Ex Daytona driver loses 10 year race for his life Orlando Sentinel May 24 1989 Archived from the original on November 10 2013 Don Williams at motorsportmemorial org The Valdosta Daily Times April 16 1979 Hagood Mike Madison driver remains in the Daytona hospital External links EditHinton Ed March 19 1989 Driver s Dream Becomes His Family s Nightmare Spartanburg Herald Journal Willoughby John December 7 2017 A NASCAR Driver from Madison Greene Publishing Inc Madison County FL Retrieved December 15 2017 Don Williams A Tragic Unknown Racing Reference info August 18 2016 Retrieved May 3 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don Williams racing driver amp oldid 1091445481, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
