Tiny Lund's Widow Shot, Killed

According to published reports, Wanda Lund-Early, widow of 1963 Daytona 500 winner Tiny Lund, was shot and killed Thursday night at her home in Waynesville, N.C.

The shooting was confirmed by Roland Via, who runs Lund's website, tinylund.com.

Via said Wanda was scheduled to be in Daytona during Speedweeks to accept an award on her late husband's behalf from the Victory Lane Racing Association.

There are few details avaialble in the shooting.

NASCAR Hall of Fame historian Buz McKim said that Lund-Early "was a great ambassador and made a lot of appearances at the legends' banquets and activities. She was as little as he was huge and they were a great couple."

Lund, who famously filled in for the injured Marvin Panch in 1963 after pulling Panch out of his burning sports car earlier in the week, was killed in a racing crash at Talladega Superspeedway 12 years later.

A large, good-humored man, Lund was a fan favorite and a very popular driver among his peers.