William James "Bill" Rexford was a stock car driver in the early 1950s.
16 Facts About Bill Rexford
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Bill Rexford is best remembered for winning the 1950 NASCAR Grand National Series championship at only 23 years old.
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Bill Rexford got his introduction at a young age as his father owned a Chevrolet dealership in the village.
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When NASCAR introduced its "Strictly Stock" series in 1949, Bill Rexford made three starts, with his best finish being a 3rd at Heidelberg Raceway.
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Bill Rexford went into full-time competition in the newly renamed Grand National Series in 1950.
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Bill Rexford and teammate Lloyd Moore became the first Northern-born drivers to go full time on the circuit.
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Bill Rexford competed in 17 of the 19 races that season, driving Oldsmobiles, Fords, and Mercuries owned by nearby Jamestown, New York resident Julian Buesink.
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Bill Rexford scored his first and only win in the fifth race of the year at Canfield Speedway.
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Bill Rexford was consistent and battled for the points lead for most of the year.
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Late in the year, Bill Rexford was able to take the points lead as both Roberts and Turner suffered from inconsistency.
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Bill Rexford's engine expired early, and his championship hopes nearly went up in smoke.
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Bill Rexford moved back to the Northeast and remained a part-time competitor in the Grand National ranks until 1953, when he ran his last race in Rochester, New York.
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Bill Rexford raced until 1956 when he retired from racing at the age of 29.
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Bill Rexford remained the only driver from the Northeast to win a championship until 2017 when New Jersey's Martin Truex Jr.
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Bill Rexford was the only series champion that was not included among NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998 and is the only champion from 1949 to 2003 not to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, as well as the only Cup Series champion who has since retired not to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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Bill Rexford is the only Cup champion to have just one career win and the first of four drivers to win the title with just one win on the season, being followed by Ned Jarrett in 1961, Benny Parsons in 1973, and Matt Kenseth in 2003.