Career
His date of birth is disputed but it was sometime between 1928 and 1932. His first race was at Opa-locka Speedway near Miami, Florida in a 1934 Ford in 1948. Estimates of Farmer"s career victories range from 700 to 900 victories, most occurring in the late 1950s and early 60"son
He raced 36 National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing races from 1953 to 1975.
Farmer"s best finish in National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing"s top division was a fourth at both the 1972 Talladega 500, and the 1968 Middle Georgia 500 near Macon, Georgia). He had so few Cup races because he was content to run primarily in the Late Model Sportsman.
He was named National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing"s most popular driver 4 times. Red later raced in the white and gold #97 car.
In the mid 60"s, however, Red raced a white, gold, and red Ford Fairlane, #F-97.
He was Davey Allison"s crew chief in the Busch Series. Red has retained his skills as a driver in spite of his age. He competed in two Busch Grand National races in 1992, and the season opening Associate of the Royal College of Art event at Daytona in 1993.
As of 2015, Farmer still regularly competes in a late model at Talladega Short Track, a 1/3 mile oval dirt track in Eastaboga, Alabama located near the Talladega Superspeedway.
The International Motorsports Hall of Fame lists his birthyear as 1928, but other sources list his birthdate as October 15, 1932. He was asked by stockcarracing.com: "You"ve been coy about your age over the years.
I"ve read that you were born in 1928, 1929, or maybe even 1930 or 1931. What year was it?" Farmer replied: "Hey, I ain"t sure.
When I was born I was too young to read the birth certificate." The interviewer followed up with "We"ll just go with 1928, how"s that?" Farmer replied: "There is so many that I can"t even figure it out.
I ain"t even sure myself anymore."
On July 12, 1993, Farmer was a passenger in a helicopter crash at Talladega Superspeedway that took the life of National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing driver Davey Allison, which occurred as Allison was attempting to land the aircraft in a nearby parking lot. The two were en route to the track in order to watch David Bonnett (son of fellow Alabama Gang driver Neil Bonnett) drive in a practice session. Farmer suffered a broken collarbone and fractured ribs in the crash.
