Roanoke native Curtis Turner entered into NASCAR Hall of Fame

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ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - The All Star week in Charlotte is a week full of activities. From the All-Star race to the 600 with the unveiling of the next Hall of Fame class sandwiched in between in this week's tear down.

The seventh NASCAR class is headed to the Hall of Fame next year includes yet another Southwest Virginia connection.

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"The drivers who raced against this, this inductee, said many things but they believed he was the fiercest competitor they faced and certainly one of the most talented. Curtis Turner is in the Hall of Fame," said Brian France, NASCAR chairman/CEO.

Born in Floyd, Curtis Turner was a Roanoke native who ran in NASCAR's first strickly stock race in 1949 and had 17 wins. He passed away at the age of 46 in a plane crash.

Curtis joins two-time cup champ Terry LaBonte, Bobby Isaac - a 60's and 70's driver with 37 wins. He had a record 19 poles in one season. Modified series champ Jerry Cook and speedway Motorsports ex chairman Bruton Smith. They'll be inducted in January but for now there's a 600 mile race to run this weekend.

And the cup boys know - you need to be 100 percent because it's the endurance test of the season.