Before NASCAR had legends, it had pioneers, and few loom larger than Herb Thomas of Olivia, North Carolina. A farmer and sawmill worker turned racing icon, Thomas and his Fabulous Hudson Hornet dominated the early years of the sport, winning more races than any other driver in the first half of the 1950s and claiming back-to-back championships in 1951 and 1953. His career earned him a spot in the NASCAR Hall of Fame and a place among the sport’s 50 Greatest Drivers. This June marks the anniversary of his very first race, run on June 19th, 1949, making it the perfect month to stop and take in this mural by artist Scott Nurkin honoring the Lee County legend.