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Whitson Buren Skeen (September 28, 1936 – September 13, 1965) was an American NASCAR driver from Denton, North Carolina.

Career

Skeen competed in eight Grand National Series events in his career, earning three finishes in the top ten.

All of those races came in 1965, when Skeen finished 60th in points. His debut went miserably, finishing 30th at North Wilkesboro after transmission woes. But then Skeen improved over the next two races, finishing 9th at Martinsville and then a career-best 5th at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Skeen would add a 7th-place finish in another race later in the year at Bowman Gray. However, four DNFs in five races were capped when Skeen died from injuries sustained a week earlier after crashing on the second lap of the 1965 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. His car spun on the second lap and was hit on the driver's side. Because of the lack of the strength in the roll cage, the drivers side door was completely smashed in. An infamous video shows the car being towed away. The drivers seat was moved completely to the other side of the car, and the steering wheel poking out of the window.

References

1. "Jarrett takes Southern 500". The Bridgeport Post. United Press International. September 7, 1965. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018.
2. "Stock car driver hurt in Darlington race dies". The Times-News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. United Press International. September 14, 1965.

External links

• Buren Skeen driver statistics at Racing-Reference
• Footage of fatal crash on YouTube
• Buren Skeen at Find a Grave

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• 1936 births
• 1965 deaths
• Sportspeople from Guilford County, North Carolina
• People from Denton, North Carolina
• Racing drivers from North Carolina
• NASCAR drivers
• Racing drivers who died while racing
• Sports deaths in South Carolina
• Filmed deaths in motorsport
• NASCAR people stubs