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Nationality | ![]() |
Born | 11 June 1901 |
Durham, Connecticut, United States | |
Died | 9 March 1955 |
Thompson, Connecticut, United States | |
Cause of Death | Accident during practice for the 1955 Icebreaker Sweepstakes |
Achievements | 1947 Pikes Peak Hill Climb Winner 1949 Icebreaker Sweepstakes Winner |
World Stock Car Championship | |
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1 races run over 2 season(s). | |
Rookie Season | 1950 |
Team(s) | Nick Fletcher |
Championships | 0 |
Pole Positions | 0 |
Wins | 0 |
Podiums | 0 |
Top 5s | 0 |
Top 10s | 0 |
Best Finish | 20th |
First Start | 1950 Icebreaker Sweepstakes |
Last Start | 1950 Icebreaker Sweepstakes |
Last Attempt | 1951 Icebreaker Sweepstakes |
Best Result | T-44th (1950) |
WSCC Canon Driver |
Nicholas Andrew "Nick" Fletcher (June 11, 1901 - March 9, 1955) was an American race car driver, bootlegger, and businessman who raced in the early days of the World Stock Car Championship. He was the winner of the fourth running of Icebreaker Sweepstakes in 1949. He was an accomplished sprint and midget car racer, where he earned the nickname "The Arrow of Pistapaug Pond".
Early Life and Career[edit | edit source]
Fletcher was born in Durham, Connecticut; he was the second son of Alden and Louise Fletcher. Alden Fletcher was a state senator who was noted in Connecticut for his passionate arguments against Prohibition; his speech in February 1919 was credited with swaying several of the undecided senators to reject the amendment, making Connecticut the first state to do so. Nick, along with his elder brother Orion, would spend much of the 1920's transporting alcohol from Canada - primarily Quebec - into Connecticut. The brothers were caught on several occasions; given that the state of Connecticut never ratified the 18th Amendment, they were often let off with warnings or tickets for speeding. Orion, however, was eventually captured when making a run down to Virginia and spent nearly three years in federal prison.
During Orion's imprisonment, Nick continued smuggling alcohol, sticking to the Northeastern states where support for Prohibition was lowest; he also took up racing at this time. He would race fellow smugglers on hastily-constructed dirt tracks before deciding to pursue racing in sanctioned series. He began board track racing in the late 1920's before moving to midget, sprint, and open wheel racing throughout the 1930's. During the motorsports moratorium, he took a job at Cardier Machine Shop, who would later bankroll his efforts in the Icebreaker Sweepstakes. He won the 1947 Pikes Peak Hillclimb, edging longtime Pikes Peak rival Alan Gilbert. In 1949, he won the fourth running of the Icebreaker, the final time the race was independently sanctioned.
WSCC Career[edit | edit source]
Death[edit | edit source]
Main article: 1955 Icebreaker Sweepstakes
On March 9, 1955, Fletcher was taking part in an open practice session prior to time trials for the 1955 running of the Icebreaker. He was driving a new 1955 Plymouth Belvedere for the race, and had put together several strong laps, indicating he would be a potent threat to make the main race. Toward the end of the session, Fletcher experienced either a brake or tire failure heading into turn three, and the car drove straight into the embankment on the outside of the turn before rolling over onto its roof. The session was halted as efforts were made to rescue Fletcher, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Links[edit | edit source]
Achievements | ||
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Previous Amos Thompson |
Icebreaker Sweepstakes Winners 1949 |
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