As a kid, in Taylorsville, North Carolina Rex would lay in bed listening to the moonshiners race through the night. At 15, he sold a few chickens, left home and began his racing career in Maryland. Sneaking under a fence at the West Lanham Speedway, he worked his way south with his first Grand National NASCAR ride in 1956, setting records and accomplishments until he retired in 1964, making Georgia his permanent home. He is proclaimed one of the greatest NASCAR stars of all time.

• 1958 – Runner up for Top Spot NASCAR Short Track Championship
• 1960 – NASCAR Grand National (Sprint Cup) champion
• 1960 – NASCAR’s Fan Voted “Most Popular Driver Award.”
• 1960 – NASCAR’s Winningest Driver for the Year.
• NASCAR’s List of “Fifty Greatest Drivers.”
• His favorite racing number “4” – given to him by his friend and racing legend, Billy Myers.
• 2015 – NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee