Ray Fox: The man who made the No. 3 famous first passes away at 98

Less than a week after the death of Junie Donlavey, NASCAR has another legendary name. Ray Fox, who's cars won 14 races at stock car racing's premier level, has passed away at the age of 98.

With his family gathered it his bedside, the famous NASCAR engine builder, mechanic, and team owner died Sunday after contracting pneumonia. He had battled COPD for a few years up until that point. Among Fox's 14 victories as a car owner was the 1968 World 600 at Charlotte; now known as the Coca Cola 600.

Fox built the car that NASCAR HOF'er Junior Johnson won the 1960 Daytona 500 with as well. Ray Fox is also a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and will one day be inducted into NASCAR's Hall of Fame too.

Dale Earnhardt may have immortalized the No. 3, but it was Ray Fox who made it famous first. A number of NASCAR legends has success in his white cars between 1962 and 1974, which all carried a red No. 3 on the door.

Fox joined NASCAR as an engine inspector between 1990 and 1996, when he officially retired from the sport. Ironic, considering he spent all those years trying to beat the system, and now, he was part of the system.

Fox passed away at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, FL; the same hospital Earnhardt was taken to after his fatal crash at the speedway in 2001.