Editing Red Byron (section)

==Background==
Born in [[Washington County, Virginia]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virginia Is For Racers {{!}} NASCAR Hall of Fame {{!}} Curators' Corner |url=https://www.nascarhall.com/blog/virginia-is-for-racers |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=Nascar Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref> he moved to [[Colorado]] at a young age, and then to [[Anniston, Alabama]], which he considered his hometown. Byron began racing in 1932 and was successful in racing at [[Talladega, Alabama|Talladega]] and Anniston by the start of the 1940s.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2008-03-06 |title=Robert Red Bryon 2008 International Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee |url=https://www.motorsportshalloffame.com/robert-red-bryon-2008-international-motorsports-hall-of-fame-inductee/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=International Motorsports Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref> Byron then made his way to [[Lakewood Speedway]], where he raced any ride he could find. While racing at Lakewood Speedway, he was noticed by [[Raymond Parks (auto racing)|Raymond Parks]], a former [[Rum-running|bootlegger]] and [[Illegal gambling in the Philippines|illegal gambling]] kingpin and current vending machine operator, as well as his mechanic, Red Vogt. Byron would race with Parks at Lakewood Speedway through the spring of 1941.

In the spring of 1941, Byron enlisted in the [[United States Army Air Corps]] at an enlistment station in [[Montgomery, Alabama]]. Byron was eventually stationed as a [[flight engineer]] on [[Consolidated B-24 Liberator|B-24 Liberator]] bombers during [[World War II]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-11 |title=How Red Byron went from WWII hero to NASCAR's first champion |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/nascar/articles/how_red_byron_went_from_wwii_hero_to_nascars_first_champion/s1_13132_41217224 |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=Yardbarker |language=en}}</ref> flying in fifty-eight missions while serving engineer duties and [[Tail gunner|tail gunning]] duties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowen |first=hr and Chris |title=Information about Red Byron from historicracing.com |url=https://www.historicracing.com/driverDetail.cfm?driverID=2966 |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=www.historicracing.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1944, Byron joined his 58th mission after subbing for a fellow serviceman whose wife was going into labor.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2012-11-08 |title=McGee: Byron was real deal |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/page/veteransnascar121108/nascar-red-byron-war-time-service-nascar-prowess-stuff-legend |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> The mission was targeted for [[Paramushir]], where members of the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] and the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] were stationed. The B-24's full assortment of bombs were dropped except for the final one, which was hung on the floor of the aircraft. As the engineer, it was Byron's job to free the hung bomb from the aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mandal |first=Anirban Aly |date=2024-11-12 |title=NASCAR History: How Red Byron Went From Fighting in WWII to Winning the First Ever Cup Series Title |url=https://thesportsrush.com/nascar-news-nascar-history-how-red-byron-went-from-fighting-in-wwii-to-winning-the-first-ever-cup-series-title/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=The SportsRush |language=en}}</ref> After freeing the bomb, Byron was hit by an explosion while he was still near the open doors of the aircraft. It is speculated that the freed bomb exploded while falling out of the aircraft but Byron strongly believed that he had been hit by [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] fire.<ref name=":0" /> The explosion tore Byron's left leg to pieces.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-18 |title=Two-time champion Red Byron laid the foundation for future NASCAR titlists |url=https://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/22145869/two-champion-red-byron-laid-foundation-future-nascar-titlists |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> A large amount of shrapnel was removed from Byron's leg at a makeshift air base hospital, before being sent to [[Fitzsimons Army Medical Center]] where he spent 27 months in rehabilitation.<ref name=":0" />

While in rehabilitation, Byron began sketching devices that would help him return to racing despite the limited movement of his left leg.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Robert "Red" Byron |url=https://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/byron-robert-red-historic-2020.html |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=www.mshf.com}}</ref> In 1946, while working on ideas with Vogt, Byron fabricated two [[Stirrup|stirrup pins]] on his clutch pedal to help support his left leg. When the stirrup pins were combined with his leg brace, he was able to operate the [[clutch]] pedal.<ref name=":1" />